Despite Living in Conservation Area, Elephants Still Threatened

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The conservation area in Riau Province, Indonesia is reportedly unable to protect the endangered Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus), as the animals are still threatened by death, even the ones inhabiting the protected area.

"Even in the conservation forest, the elephants' habitation and population are still threatened," said the spokesman of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for Riau Program, Syamsidar, to Tempo on Friday, January 10.

Syamsidar revealed that in less than ten years, over 100 elephants have died in the conservation area. The most death had happened in Tesso Nilo National Park and Balairaja Conservation Area in Duri. The latest case was the death of 13 elephants during 2013, which were all happened in Tesso Nilo National Park and one death in Balairaja.

Based on WWF monitoring, the deaths were mostly due to illegal activities such as poisoning the giant animals. It is so ironic that such irresponsible acts happened inside the protected area. In Tesso Nilo for example, there are at least 2,000 families currently living in the area and planting palm trees. It triggers conflicts between human and elephant population.

According to Syamsidar, the weak law enforcement to the illegal logging in Tesso Nilo is contributing to the elephant's death. He also regretted that none of the deaths has been processed by the law.

RIYAN NOFITRA