Malaysia

‘Rejected’ baby jumbo finds new home at orangutan sanctuary

Sabah wildlife unit swoops in to rescue 1-year-old calf Yuri

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 19 Jun 2021 1:05PM

‘Rejected’ baby jumbo finds new home at orangutan sanctuary — A Sabah Wildlife Rescue Unit team guiding a baby elephant, affectionately named Yuri, through an oil palm plantation where it was found lost and abandoned. – Sabah Wildlife Rescue Unit pic, June 19, 2021

by Rebecca Chong

LAHAD DATU – A baby elephant named Yuri was left homeless after being rejected by its herd, but has since been rescued by Sabah’s Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) and found a safe home at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.

Department assistant director Sen Nathan said the Wildlife Department’s Lahad Datu branch had received an emergency call to rescue the lost pachyderm at Felda Sahabat 9 Baiduri Ayu oil palm estate last Thursday.

The calf was first found by estate workers there on Tuesday.

“The team had monitored the baby elephant for a few days and tried its best to reunite the baby elephant with its herd. Unfortunately, the herd did not accept the baby,” he said.

Sen said that it is possible that the unwanted calf was not accepted by the herd due to human contact with the calf, which made it smell different.

“Another reason could be that the baby elephant had already spent too long a time away from its group, or that the herd might not have been its group,” he said.

Yuri is a male calf aged about 1 year old. Its name is short for Baiduri, the name of the estate where it was found.

Rescued elephant calf Yuri is now being housed at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where he is reported to be happy, rambunctious, and of healthy appetite. – Sabah Wildlife Rescue Unit pic, June 19, 2021

The unit that came to Yuri’s rescue was led by WRU veterinarian Uma Maheswari.

Currently, the rambunctious tyke is now plodding around happily at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre for further veterinary and husbandry care.

“The WRU team tried to feed the baby elephant milk but failed as it is not familiar with it. However, the calf drinks water through its trunk and eats solid food, such as banana trunks.

“Upon physical examination, the baby elephant animal was bright, alert and responsive. The animal had minor skin injuries on its left forelimbs and front (of its) head. Apart from that, no other abnormalities were found.

“The baby elephant had a good appetite with positive urination and defecation. Overall, it is a healthy baby elephant,” Sen said.

Sen thanked the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation, Orangutan Appeal UK, and Oregon Zoo for funding all WRU operations. – The Vibes, June 19, 2021