LAHAD DATU: A baby pygmy elephant was killed after being hit by a Perodua Viva on the Lahad Datu-Sandakan road at 2.16am this morning.
Lahad Datu wildlife officer Sylvester Saimin said the baby elephant died at the scene.
“The driver of the vehicle involved is believed to have escaped unhurt but the vehicle he was driving was damaged in the front,” he said.
He said the baby elephant was believed to have suddenly crossed the road and the driver could not avoid hitting the wild animal.
“The Lahad Datu Wildlife Department then conducted a post-mortem examination before burying the carcass,” he added.
The pygmy elephant or Borneo elephant is a subspecies of the Asian elephant and is protected under wildlife conservation law.