Desperate To Approach Wild Elephants For Photo Purposes, Riau Resident Junaidi Injured By Trunk

Two elephants from Jambi entered Batuampar, Indragiri Hilir. (Photo: Antara/HO- BBKSDA Riau)

RIAU - Conflict between elephants and residents in the Indragiri Hilir area, Riau, has occurred again. One of the residents named Junaidi was injured as a result of being attacked by these protected animals.

Head of Natural Resources Conservation Center Region I of Riau, Andri Hansen Siregar, said the conflict had occurred since the last few days. The wild elephants came from Jambi and entered the Riau region.

"For several days there have been two elephants from Jambi entering Merlung and Simpang Rambutan, all the way to Batuampar, Indragiri Hilir", Andri Hansen told reporters at Pekanbaru, Antara, Friday, August 27.

He said, after arriving in Batuampar, the two wild elephants ate the plants of residents in the village. Residents who saw the elephant then tried to take pictures.

"When he wanted to take a picture he was attacked. He wanted to take a photo from a distance of about 20 meters, suddenly the elephant turned and attacked the resident with its trunk", said Hansen.

Hansen said he had repeatedly reminded residents not to approach when wild elephants entered the plantation. Because elephant attacks can occur at any time when they feel disturbed.

"It is possible that these elephants felt disturbed, so they attacked, coincidentally the location of the incident was also the habitat of the elephants and had turned into plantations. However, now they are in good condition, there are only marks of attack on the ribs", he said.

Together with Bukit Tigapuluh National Park (TNBT) officers, the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center Center team tried to lead the two elephants to Jambi. In fact, it has walked as far as 6 kilometers.

"The escort was carried out together with officers from the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, they had walked as far as 7 kilometers to Jambi. These elephants were actually elephants from Jambi who were separated from the group, so we wanted to collect them again", said Hansen.