Police Find Projectiles at the Location of a Dead Elephant with a Cut Head

PEKANBARU - The Riau Regional Police found projectile bullets around the location of the elephant's death, which was found with its head cut off, in the Ukui District forest area, Pelalawan Regency, indicating that there was a crime of illegal hunting.

Head of the Forensic Laboratory at the Riau Police, AKBP Ungkap Siahaan, explained that his party had carried out an investigation of the crime scene in the area with a team from the Pelalawan Police and the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency.

"From the results of the crime scene that we conducted, we found two pieces of metal that were suspected to be projectiles or bullets from firearms," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, February 6.

The first piece of metal has a diameter of 12.30 millimeters with a length of 16.30 millimeters. While one other fragment is approximately 6.94 millimeters long.

After a preliminary scientific test, two pieces of metal were detected positive for lead, copper or brass, as well as gunpowder nitrate and gunshot residue.

"For the type of weapon used, it is still in the process of being deepened through laboratory examination," he said.

The Riau BBKSDA Veterinary Doctor drh Rini Deswita, revealed based on the results of field examination, the elephant was shot in the forehead. He explained that the bullet projectile was still embedded in the skull and the position of the skull was still fused with the neck.

"The elephant was shot in the forehead. The projectile is still in the skull, and the skull is still fused with the neck," said Rini.

It is known that the front of the head, including the forehead, eyes, nose, and tusks are missing because they were cut with sharp weapons. The trunk was also found in a separate condition.

The perpetrator allegedly cut off half of the head to take the ivory which was more than one meter long.

"So actually it's not the head that is missing, but it was cut in half using a sharp weapon to take the ivory," he said.

From the results of the examination of the elephant, the animal has a body length of about 286 centimeters and is estimated to be over 40 years old. The animal is known to be part of the Tesso Tenggara elephant pocket.

"The elephant had been dead for more than 10 days before it was found. After examination and data collection, the elephant carcass was then buried at the location," he said.