Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Investigates the Death of a Headless Elephant in a Company Area in Riau

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has followed up on the alleged hunting of Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) which were found dead in the working area of PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (PT RAPP) in Riau, and there is no tolerance for the action.

"The death of this elephant is a very serious event. The loss of the head indicates a strong indication of poaching. We will investigate this case thoroughly with the Riau Police and take firm action against anyone involved," said Head of the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) Supartono, reported by ANTARA, Friday, February 6.

Crimes against elephants, he said, are crimes against the country and the future of Indonesia's biodiversity.

He said that the BBKSDA Riau received a report from PT RAPP in Pelalawan Regency on Monday (2/2) regarding the discovery of a dead elephant at the location.

Following up on the report, on Tuesday (3/2), the Riau BBKSDA together with the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditkrimsus) of the Riau Police and the company immediately conducted a direct inspection at the scene.

Initial examination results confirmed that the carcass was a male Sumatran elephant, with an estimated age of around 40 years.

The condition of the carcass showed that the head had disappeared, which indicated a strong suspicion of illegal hunting and the removal of parts of protected animals.

Based on these findings, BBKSDAbersama Polda Riau and the company took intensive investigative steps to uncover the cause of the elephant's death, as well as identify the perpetrators and the networks involved.

He said the case was treated as a serious crime against Indonesia's biological resources and biodiversity.

BBKSDA Riau stated that the Sumatran elephant is a protected wildlife. Any form of hunting, killing, storage, possession, transportation, or trade in parts of protected animals is a criminal offense as stipulated in Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning the Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Ecosystems.

Supartono said that the regulation was a strong foundation for the authorities in taking firm action against wildlife crime perpetrators.

"Law Number 32 of 2024 provides a strong legal basis for conservation enforcement. We ensure that the entire process of handling this case is carried out firmly, transparently, and according to law, as a form of the state's commitment to protecting the increasingly threatened Sumatran elephant population," he said.

BBKSDA Riau appeals to the public not to engage in hunting or trading wildlife, and to play an active role in reporting to the authorities if they know or find indications of crimes against protected plants and wildlife.