Residents Find Elephant Carcasses In Production Forest, Aceh BKSDA Says Puncture Marks In Chest And Stomach

The veterinary medical team examines the carcass of an elephant found in North Aceh Regency, Aceh Province. (ANTARA/HO BKSDA Aceh)

ACEH - The Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) stated that the carcass of a Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) was found in a production forest area in the Nisam Antara sub-district, North Aceh district.

Head of the Aceh BKSDA Agus Arianto said residents found the carcass of a male elephant estimated to be 10 to 12 years old on February 20, 2022 at 17.00 WIB.

BKSDA Aceh dispatched a team to the location where the elephant carcass was found after receiving reports from residents.

According to Agus, the tusks of the Sumatran elephants are still intact, measuring 66 cm long, 19 cm in diameter, and 22 cm in circumference at the base. However, ivory stab wounds were found on the chest, abdomen, groin, and near the elephant's eye.

"It is tentatively suspected that the death was caused by a fight between wild elephants. The results of the site investigation did not reveal any suspicious objects," said Agus in Banda Aceh, Antara, Wednesday, February 23.

He added that the BKSDA had taken several samples of the elephant's vital organs for further examination.

Agus said that Sumatran elephants are protected by law. He appealed to residents to support efforts to conserve these animals by not destroying the elephant habitat or hunting and killing them.