Student vet mauled to death by pygmy elephant
December 8th, 2011 - 10:21 pm ICT by Aishwarya BhattBorneo, Dec 8 (THAINDIAN NEWS) A student of Australia’s University of Sydney has been mauled to death by a pygmy elephant in a Malaysian wildlife park. Painfully, veterinarian Jenna O’Grady Donley was due to graduate next week. The incident happened at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah state.
The 25-year-old and her friend were on the park with a guide when the rare pygmy came out attacking. Witnesses say Donley died instantly when the animal pierced her with its task. The other two people manage to escape to safety.
The Australian consulate in Malaysia says they are extending all forms of assistance to the family of Donley who have asked for privacy during the period. The guide who accompanied the two on the tour is currently being quizzed by the police.
Donley is described as a passionate wildlife lover. Writing in NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Agriculture Today, Donley said that, “Caring about rural people, their land, livelihood, animals, becoming involved with their families – it’s refreshing to be able to work with such genuine, down to earth people.”
Pygmy elephants are smaller than their Asian counterparts. They are rare in the region. Park officials believe that the animal was startled as the tourists tried to take pictures of it.
- Palm-oil plan may save the world's last orangutans - Jul 23, 2009
- Kaziranga National Park attracts tourists - Jan 21, 2011
- Wildlife guard killed by elephant - Jan 11, 2012
- Militants kidnap six WWF officials from Manas Tiger Reserve - Feb 07, 2011
- Tourists flock to Kaziranga National Park - Jan 18, 2011
- Human-elephant conflict on the rise in Assam - May 17, 2012
- Report: 88 percent of logging in Indonesia is illegal - Jun 23, 2011
- Panther dies of thirst in Rajasthan heat - May 30, 2012
- Eco-tourism can stress wild orangutans - Mar 19, 2012
- Assam villagers poisoning elephants to prevent attacks - Oct 14, 2010
- Centre's decision to confer 'National Heritage' status on elephants welcomed - Oct 29, 2010
- Rarest otter discovered in Borneo - Jul 27, 2010
- Assam's elephant population increasing - Mar 31, 2012
- Elephant electrocuted in Meghalaya - May 27, 2011
- Adding self-reliance to conservation, with jams and jellies - Feb 13, 2012
Tags: agriculture, asian counterparts, borneo, donley, elephant, livelihood, nsw department of primary industries, park officials, pygmy elephant, pygmy elephants, quizzed, s university, sabah state, tabin wildlife reserve, tourists, university of sydney, vet, veterinarian, wildlife lover, wildlife park