BANDA ACEH - The Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has filed a police report regarding the death of a Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) who was allegedly electrocuted in a resident's plantation in Karang Ampar Village, Ketol District, Central Aceh Regency.
Head of the Aceh BKSDA, Ujang Wisnu Barata, said the report had been submitted to the Central Aceh Police and the case was currently still in the investigation stage.
"This elephant death case was followed up by making a police report at the Central Aceh Police. Currently, the case is in the investigation stage," said Ujang in Banda Aceh, Antara, Wednesday, February 25.
Previously, the BKSDA received a report from residents about the discovery of a dead elephant in a plantation on Saturday, February 21. The BKSDA team, along with members of the Karang Ampar Police and partners, immediately checked the location.
At the location, a female elephant aged around 20 years was found dead. The protected wildlife is estimated to have died the day before it was found.
"When found, the elephant's trunk was attached to a high-voltage electric wire that was still energized. Officers and police personnel immediately secured the location," said Ujang.
The BKSDA medical team together with personnel from the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Aceh Police, the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Central Aceh Police, the Karang Ampar Police, and partners then conducted an investigation of the crime scene and an autopsy.
The results of the necropsy showed that there were burns on the elephant's trunk. The initial diagnosis said that the death was caused by an electric current. Samples of vital organs were also taken to strengthen the results of the examination.
After the necropsy process is completed, the elephant carcass is buried around the scene of the incident. BKSDA reminds that the installation of high-voltage electric wire is at risk of endangering wildlife as well as human safety.
The Sumatran elephant is a protected animal and according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is critically endangered, with a high risk of extinction in the wild.
The BKSDA appeals to the public to maintain habitat sustainability by not damaging forests, not catching, injuring, or killing protected animals, and not storing, possessing, maintaining, transporting, or trading them, both alive and dead.
"All negative acts against protected wildlife can be subject to criminal sanctions in accordance with applicable laws and regulations," said Ujang.
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