Baby Joe, just three months old, faced immense heartbreak when he was discovered nuzzling his deceased mother, a victim of a suspected poisoning incident that claimed the lives of 14 elephants in the region.

Joe’s mother, along with other relatives, died in the tropical rainforests near Kota Kinabalu, leaving Joe alone and distressed.

Wildlife officials were moved to tears by the sight of Joe trying to wake his mother. Without intervention, he likely would have stayed by her side until he starved.

Joe, who had lost weight and possibly ingested poison through his mother’s milk, is now receiving constant care at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Centre. Experts initially feared he might succumb to grief and the physical effects of the poisoning.

Fortunately, Joe has formed a strong bond with his caretaker, Augustin David, who has taken on the role of a surrogate mother.

Augustin’s full-time commitment includes feeding Joe a special formula every two hours, even at night.

“He finds comfort in sucking on people’s thumbs, much like a human baby. It soothes him. However, he dislikes showers, so we bathe him in his pen instead,” Augustin explained.

Dr. Diana Ramirez, the veterinarian overseeing Joe’s recovery, highlighted the challenges ahead. Despite Joe’s resilience, his condition remains precarious. “Baby elephants can appear healthy and then suddenly deteriorate.

They are highly susceptible to colic, which can be rapidly fatal. We can be more confident about his recovery once he reaches six or seven months old,” she said.

The mysterious deaths of Joe’s mother and the other elephants are under investigation. Experts suspect the elephants ingested toxic substances to protect nearby palm oil crops from pests.

The deceased elephants, found in the Gunung Rara Forest Reserve, showed no signs of poaching; their tusks were intact, and there were no gunshot wounds.

If Joe recovers, he will eventually move to the 280-acre Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. He will join 16 other injured and orphaned elephants there, creating a new family and finding a place to grow and thrive.