Elephant Calf "Dumbo" At The Surabaya Zoo Dies

SURABAYA - The Regional Animal Park Company (PDTS) of the Surabaya Zoo (KBS) confirmed that a 2.5-year-old elephant calf named "Dumbo" in Surabaya Zoo was found to have died for no apparent reason.

"Yes, sir, to be precise, we are waiting for the results of the autopsy and laboratory. We will release them later", said the Director of Regional Animal Park Company of Surabaya Zoo, Khoirul Anwar, quoted by Antara, Friday, December 17.

When asked when the elephant calf died, the President Director of Surabaya Zoo was reluctant to explain because it would be released soon. However, according to information obtained by Antara, the elephant calf died a week ago.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of Commission B for the Economy of the Surabaya Regional House of Representatives, Anas Karno, said that after receiving information about the death of the elephant calf, his party immediately went to Surabaya Zoo to confirm Surabaya Zoo management regarding the death of the elephant calf.

"Earlier, the management of Surabaya Zoo confirmed this. About when the elephant calf died, management has not conveyed it. Earlier, it only said that it was dead and now it is still in the autopsy process", he said.

Surabaya Zoo HRD, Rika Widiyasanti, who at that time came to Anas Karno, also confirmed that there was a dead elephant calf at Surabaya Zoo.

According to her, for now, her party is still waiting for the results of the laboratory and autopsy.

"Please be patient, we will explain when it is released later. There is no food error, from a treatment perspective, it is good. We have also reported this to the authorities", she said.

Animal observer, Singky Soewadji, said the information he got was that the elephant calf died a week ago.

"I wonder why all the staff, medical and senior officials at Surabaya Zoo cover the death of this elephant calf? The elephant is an Appendix I animal that is protected by law. It is a criminal offense", he said.

Even strangely, from the results of the autopsy he received, he continued, the elephant calf's blood vessels burst and it was suspected that it was a virus.

According to him, the answer from the Surabaya Zoo management is normative. "If it's a virus why don't the others get it?" he said.

Previously, the calf was given the name Dumbo by the then Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini, who is now the Minister of Social Affairs.

Dumbo was born in Surabaya on July 22, 2019, which is the younger brother of Gonzales from the marriage of a female elephant breeder named Lembang and a male parent named Doa.