Pregnant Elephant Found Dead Poisoned in Bengkalis Riau

TheIndonesia.co - The Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) stated that the examination showed a pregnant elephant whose carcass was found in the Bengkalis Regency area on May 24, 2022, died of poison. This conclusion was obtained based on a necropsy and laboratory examination of the carcass that was found in the concession area of PT Arara Abadi in Koto Pait Beringin Village, Talang Muandau District, Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province.

Head of Riau BBKSDA Genman S. Hasibuan told the media in Pekanbaru, Wednesday, August 24, 2022, that the poison that caused the elephant's death has come from pineapples. Hasibuan said further handling of the elephant death case was left to the police.

The Bengkalis Police Head, Commissioner of Police Maitertika, said that a worker found the carcass of the pregnant elephant in a foul-smelling state and bleeding from the mouth on May 24, 2022.

Hasibuan also explained that the Director of Conservation of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Indra Exploitasia with the Riau BBKSDA team, the Tesso Nilo National Park Office, the Pekanbaru Regional III Production Forest Management Center, the Police, and representatives of PT Arara Abadi had visited the location of the elephant's death on July 23, 2022.

During the visit, all agreed to support integrated efforts to protect the Sumatran elephant population.

"It is necessary to build an integrated pattern of communication between stakeholders. It is also necessary to collect data on conditions in the area of elephant movement or enclaves so that all problems found can be mapped," said Hasibuan. "In addition, it is necessary to internalize the steps that will be taken, especially in conflict mitigation," he added.