Police Still Investigating Death of Sumatra Elephant Suspected to Have Been Poisoned

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Riau Regional Police and the Pelalawan Resort Police are still investigating the death of a Sumatran elephant under the care of the Tesso Nilo National Park Center (TNTN). The male elephant, named Rahman, died on January 10, suspected to have been poisoned for the purpose of taking its tusks.

Pelalawan Police Chief Adj. Comr. Suwinto said on January 29 that his precinct is only supervising and assisting the investigation process. Together with the Riau Regional Police's Special Criminal Investigation Directorate, they have carried out a series of investigation processes.

According to TNTN head Heru Sutmantoro, an elephant handler named Jumadi was checking the elephants' habitat in the forest at around 08:30 in the morning.

"Jumadi called the elephant, but there was no response. When he looked closer, he found the elephant in a limp condition with its left tusk cut off," Heru Sutmantoro told Tempo on January 12.

After Jumadi reported the situation, officers and veterinarians from the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center arrived. They tried to save the elephant but the elephant didn't make it and died shortly before 04:00 pm that day.

The information released by the Tesso Nilo National Park stated that based on the results of a necropsy by the medical team, the elephant's digestive organs and internal organs were pale. They also found the remains of papaya fruit and black powder fragments, suspected to be poison.

Rahman the elephant has since been buried.

ALIF ILHAM FAJRIADI

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