BKSDA: Dead Elephant In Central Aceh Allegedly Due To Poisoning

The Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has stated a temporary suspicion of the death of a Sumatran elephant (elephas maximus sumatranus) in Karang Ampar, Ketol District, Central Aceh Regency due to poisoning.

"From the results of the necropsy carried out macroscopically or without a microscope, it is suspected that the death of an elephant in Karang Ampar, Central Aceh Regency was due to poisoning," said Head of the Aceh BKSDA Gunawan Alza as reported by ANTARA, Monday, June 12.

Previously, a wild elephant was found dead in a resident's garden in Karang Ampar Village, Ketol District, Central Aceh Regency, on June 9, 2023. The elephant carcass was found about 300 meters from a resident's house.

Then, the BKSDA deployed a team to the location where the elephant carcass was found. From the initial identification, the elephant carcass was female with an estimated age of 15 years.

The carcasses of protected animals when found lying in the right position of the body and experiencing swelling in the stomach. While the tongue is black and bruised, the anus is sticking, and the eyes are immersed in.

"Although the initial suspicion was due to poisoning, the team took samples of the elephant's organs such as the tongue, runoff, lungs, kidneys, liver, heart, and others to be examined in the laboratory to determine the cause of the elephant's death," said Gunawan.

Gunawan said his party also reported the death of the Sumatran elephant to the Central Aceh Police. The police report aims to investigate law enforcement officers.

Sumatran elephants are protected wildlife. Based on data from the world nature conservation organization, IUCN, Sumatran elephants are only found on the island of Sumatra. These animals are in critically endangered species and are at high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Aceh BKSDA appealed to the community to jointly preserve nature, especially the Sumatran elephant wildlife by not destroying the forest which is its habitat.

Then, do not catch, kill, store, maintain, transport, and trade protected animals alive or dead.

As well as not setting snares and poisoning that cause the death of elephants and other protected animals. Actions that cause the death of an elephant can be subject to criminal sanctions based on applicable laws and regulations.

"Damage to elephant habitat can cause conflict with humans. This conflict can cause economic losses and casualties for humans as well as the survival of these protected animals," said Gunawan Alza.