Shafie said such assistance was much needed by Sabah wildlife authorities who lacked the numbers to keep watch over the vast tract of land in the state.

“The Tiger platoon will certainly provide more expertise and capability in our fight against wildlife criminals. We appreciate and welcome the move by the police to assist the state in protecting our wildlife,” he told reporters after launching the Sabah Agriculture Blueprint here today.

Hamid had said in Tawau yesterday that the General Operations Force’s Tiger platoon unit would be tasked to assist the wildlife and forestry authorities protect Malaysia’s flora and fauna.

He said the platoon would go on patrol, carry out raids and also track down culprits together with the Sabah Wildlife Department and the Sabah Forestry Department.

Last Sunday, the carcass of a pygmy elephant was found floating in the Kinabatangan river. SWD director Augustine Tuuga confirmed foul play was involved, saying the toes on the animal’s front feet had been cut off.

It was the third reported death of a pygmy elephant in five weeks. In the first incident, occurring on Sept 26 in Kalabakan, Tawau, a bull elephant was found with over 70 bullet holes in its body.

Last month, an elephant was found dead in an oil palm plantation in Beluran. Its tusks had been sawn off.