45 Years Old Female Elephant Found Dead In Pelalawan District Resident's Garden

"After being found dead on May 24, 2021, the Riau BKSDA immediately carried out a necropsy on the animal carcass," said Head of Administration for the Riau KSDA Center, Hartono, in Pekanbaru, as reported by Antara, Wednesday, June 16.

He said that in April 2021 based on information from the New Teratak community, there was an elephant in the community garden in New Teratak.

By using a spirit cannon, he said, at that time the community carried out evictions and managed to lead the elephant to the land of the former People's Forest Plantation (HTR) Sikijang Village.

"Furthermore, the Estate Baserah patrol team found the elephant around the Teratak Baru HTR area adjacent to the community garden, moving away from the community garden," he said.

However, on April 24, 2021, based on information from a member of the Tesso Nilo National Park Agency named Popon, the elephant was found in the community garden of Gunung Melintang Village and since then the same elephant has not been found again.

It is estimated that the Riau BKSDA team, he said, at that time the elephants were around the Nilo River border. Then, on May 5, 2021 at 18.05 WIB, the elephant was again found entering the sedimentary pond area of BCN. The elephant was successfully led back into the forest by employees of Baserah Central Nursery (BCN).

Then, since the last discovery, on May 24, 2021, the elephant was again found by BCN officers around the Nilo River border. Then, on the same date the elephant was found again.

"However, this time the protected proboscis animal was found dead in a rubber plantation adjacent to the housing area for BCN employees," he said.

"The location of the elephant's discovery is in Lubuk Kembang Bungo Village, Ukui District, Pelalawan Regency," he added.

At that time, PT RAPP's Environment Officer also immediately checked the location where the elephant was found to see the condition of the elephant and carried out security at the scene.

Furthermore, the information is forwarded to the Conservation Head who directly coordinates with the Riau KSDA Center team.

"That same day, we immediately dispatched the Riau KSDA Great Hall team, accompanied by the RAPP team, to conduct a crime scene and necropsy of the elephant carcass," he said.

From the results of the necropsy and pathological examinations carried out by the medical team of the Riau KSDA Center, it is suspected that the cause of the death of the 45-year-old female elephant is disorders of the liver and respiratory system.

"Currently, the elephant blood sample is in the process of laboratory analysis in Bogor and is still waiting for the results," said Hartono.