Perdana Sejak 1981 Dua Ejah Terlihat Lagi Di Sijunjung West Sumatra, BKSDA Umbak Warga Tidak Berlakukan Hubur

The team conducted a search for the presence of an elephant that was first seen in Durian Gadang/ANTARA

The team from the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) of West Sumatra conducted a search for the whereabouts of two elephants that were seen for the first time on February 14, 2023 in Nagari Durian Gadang, Sijunjung Regency, local province. "The team conducted a search until Sunday to confirm the presence of two elephants which were finally seen again in West Sumatra," said Head of the West Sumatra BKSDA Ardi Andono in Padang, as reported by Antara, Monday, February 20. The appearance of elephants in West Sumatra is a phenomenon because it has never occurred since 1981 in South Solok. His party conducted a search by following in their footsteps, dirt, and plant remains eaten by two elephants on their journey. The check was carried out directly in the field by the West Sumatra BKSDA team together with elements of Muspika, KPHL Sijunjung, Geopark manager Silok, and Wali Nagari Durian Gadang Sijunjung. From the results of the team's search, it was concluded that on Wednesday the two elephants were no longer in West Sumatra. From the results of the team's search, it was concluded that the elephant had headed to Riau through the Rimbang Baling corridor. The BKSDA identified the two large mammals as male young elephants with an estimated age of five to eight years. Taking into account the young age and gender of both males, it is suspected that the elephant was lost or separated from the main group. "The elephant allows to form a new group with at least one partner and is ten years old," he explained. Ardi said the search was carried out by his party up to a distance of eight kilometers from the last point seen by residents. The BKSDA invites the people of West Sumatra to respond to the elephant's appearance with joy and maintain its existence together, not to do hunting or flocking to the elephant. "This is an asset for West Sumatra which states that our area has an elephant, let's protect its existence and safety together," he said. The BKSDA emphasized that perpetrators who hunt elephants can be charged with criminal acts as contained in Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Natural Resources.