KINABATANGAN: Her name was Nita and she was just 1 month old when she was found alone in a Tawau oil palm plantation 20 months ago.
She was injured with wounds all over her body and suffering from an umbilical cord and foot infection.
Her rescuers, the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU), brought her to the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary but due to serious complications from her injuries she was euthanised two weeks ago, informed SWD director, Augustine Tuuga, in a statement today (March 12).
Earlier this year, Nita was spotted limping in her enclosure and radiographs were ordered.
“Unfortunately, her previous fractures were aggravated as images revealed there were broken bones and Nita was diagnosed with a bilateral supracondylar fracture,” he said.
He said that veterinarians put a fiberglass cast on the limb to help it heal, while a team of orthopaedic specialists from the Duchess of Kent Hospital, Sandakan was consulted.
“Despite the intensive care given, Nita wasn’t improving and her condition got worse to the extent it was severely compromising her welfare.
“The fractures she sustained were beyond repair and the vets had to make the hardest decision to end her misery. We grieve for the loss of such a sweetheart,” he said.
Nita’s attending vet, Dr Sen Nathan, said he was sad she had to be put down and felt that he and his team had lost a battle.
“Even though we tried our best, sometimes we lose some battles,” he said. – Bernama
