Riau BKSDA Investigation Of Elephant Death Allegedly Poisoned

The Riauv BKSDA carries out neucropsy to determine the cause of elephant death in Southeast Tesso, Pelalawan. (ANTARA/HO- BB KSDA Riau)

PeKANBARU - Riau Province's Center for Conservation and Natural Resources (BBKSDA) investigated the discovery of a wild elephant dead around the Southeast Tesso Bag, Pelalawan Regency, which was allegedly poisoned.

"Regarding this, the Riau KSDA Center together with the Law Enforcement Center have dispatched a team to carry out investigations and 'nekropies' to find out the cause of the elephant's death," said Head of BBKSDA RiauGennman Hasibuan as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 12.

This was done because not far from the location a bag containing brown sugar was found which was suspected to be used as bait for elephant food. Usually mixed with substances that contain poison.

The elephant's body was found on Tuesday (11/7) at around 07.00 WIB by a company employee. The elephant was identified as a male elephant about 10-12 years old with complete ivory conditions and no body parts were injured or missing.

The location of the incident is an area of claims or built areas that have been planted with community oil palm which is in the concession area of Industrial Plant Forest Concession Rights (HPHTI) in Nilo District, Pelalawan Regency.

Based on the results of "necropsy", the elephant's death is thought to be due to poisoning which causes respiratory tract disorders and inflammation of the digestive tract and stomach.

To determine the cause of further elephant death, the Riau KSDA Center set aside the organs in the elephant for laboratory tests.

"For further steps related to the incident, the Riau KSDA Center will collect materials, information, and coordinate with law enforcement for further legal action," he said.

He said the Sumatran elephant is a type of wild animal protected by law. Therefore, he asked all parties to provide serious protection against the existence of elephants considering its function as one of the factors to accelerate the recovery of forest ecosystems and as a deposit for future generations.