Sumatran Elephant Found Injured In East Aceh

The photo archive - Aceh BKSDA medical officers along with veterinarians from FKL assisted by police officers to treat wild elephants injured in Pante Kera, Simpang Jernih, East Aceh. (ANTARA/HO-Humas East Aceh Police)

BANDA ACEH - A Sumatran elephant (elephas maximus sumatranus) was found injured in Pante Kera Village, Simpang Jernih District, East Aceh Regency.

Simpang Jernih Police Chief Ipda Maswelliadi said the wild elephant was injured as a female. The female elephant is suspected of being the parent.

"The wounds were seen, among others, on the legs, on the hips, and cuts on the right ear. It is not yet known why the wild elephant was injured. However, it is suspected that the wound was caused by a fight between the elephants," he said.

The police chief said that previously it was observed that a herd of elephants entered the plantation on Friday (23/2) afternoon. The herd consists of six individuals, consisting of male elephants, female mothers, and four children with varying body sizes.

Not long ago, said Maswelliadi, four elephant and male cubs returned to the forest area. Meanwhile, the female mother is reportedly staying in the plantation.

Knowing that there were wild elephants in the plantation, residents informed Keuchik (village head) of Pante Kera. Furthermore, the information was forwarded to the police.

After receiving information that there were elephants in residents' plantations, said Maswelliadi, his party coordinated with the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and a team from the Leuser Conservation Forum (FKL), an institution that focuses on preserving protected animals.

"The next day, a joint team accompanied by police officers headed to the location or plantation to check and wanted to carry out evictions. However, the female elephant was found injured," said Maswelliadi.

The joint team immediately handled the elephant. The handling of protected animal wounds took place quickly due to the role of an active community and coordinated with officers in saving protected animals.

"The elephant is still at the location. The BKSDA team together with the FKL continue to monitor the condition of the wild elephant. If it has recovered, it will immediately be carried out to the forest area," said Maswelliadi.