Riau Police Looking for the Perpetrators of the Wild Elephant Hunting that Died in a Shooting

PEKANBARU - The Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Riau Regional Police has deployed a team to hunt down the perpetrators of the illegal elephant hunting who were shot and partially beheaded in Ukui District, Pelalawan Regency.

Director of Reskrimsus of the Riau Police, Kombes Ade Kuncoro, said that his party had carried out an investigation of the crime scene (TKP) and examined a number of witnesses in an effort to arrest the elephant poacher who was found dead on Tuesday (3/2).

"We have conducted a crime scene there and we are also looking for witnesses. There are five witnesses that we have examined, including the results of the autopsy and the labfor has been examined. We hope that we can reveal this matter soon and the perpetrator will be arrested," said Ade as reported by ANTARA, Friday, February 6.

He emphasized that a team from Subdit IV Ditreskrimsus had been sent down to join the ranks of the Pelalawan Police in uncovering the case.

The results of the examination showed that the protected animal was shot in the forehead. The bullet projectile is still inside the skull, which is still fused with the neck.

The front of the elephant's head, including the forehead, eyes, nose, and tusks, is known to be missing. It is suspected that the perpetrator cut off the head using a sharp weapon to take the tusks. The trunk was also found in a separate condition.

The Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency Veterinary Doctor, drh Rini Deswita, revealed that based on the results of the examination, the dead elephant had a body length of about 286 centimeters and was 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.