TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A female elephant died in the village of Gampong Teladan, Aceh Besar. The elephant, estimated to have been 40 years old, had wounds on its back, right leg, and stomach, an official said.
"The female adult elephant was already dead when the doctors and elephant handler from PLG Saree, Aceh Besar, came to treat it. The elephant was found dead when the team arrived at the site on Thursday around 12:00 pm," Sapto Aji Prabowo, the head of the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) Aceh, said on Thursday, August 17.
The day before, Sapto said, the BKSDA Aceh and a team of doctors from the Veterinary Faculty of Syiah Kuala University, with the help of locals, tried to treat the wounded elephant.
The protected animal was found with severe, infected wounds on parts of its body including its back, right front leg, and abdomen.
"We suspect that the elephant had been injured by sharp objects for at least a month, causing infection," said Sapto Aji Prabowo.
The doctors had planned to save the elephant, but sadly it died today.
"The team then carried out an autopsy after coordinating with the local police force," said Sapto Aji Prabowo. Preliminary observations concluded that the elephant died from severe infections.
ANTARA