Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the mother and three calves all died from respiratory failure, organ failure, and internal bleeding. (X pic)
PETALING JAYA: A mother elephant and her three calves found dead in Kluang on June 1 suffered from respiratory failure, organ failure, and internal bleeding due to suspected poisoning, says Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon.
He said the state government was still waiting for laboratory and toxicology test results to confirm the matter, Berita Harian reported.
“Based on initial findings, the cause of death of the four elephants was respiratory and organ failure, as well as internal bleeding.
“The carcasses of the mother elephant and her three male calves were found within 50m of each other.
“However, to find out why the four elephants experienced respiratory and organ failure, in addition to internal bleeding, we require results from laboratory tests. This includes bacteriology and virology tests,” he said in Perling, Iskandar Puteri.
Ling, who is Yong Peng assemblyman, added that if it is proven that the four elephants died from poisoning, legal action will be taken.
