Indonesia probes killing of critically endangered Sumatran elephant found mutilated in Riau plantation

Indonesian authorities are investigating the killing of a critically endangered Sumatran elephant found mutilated inside an industrial plantation concession in Riau Province, in what conservationists fear may be another case of wildlife poaching in Sumatra’s shrinking forests.

The carcass of a male elephant was discovered within the concession area of pulp and paper producer PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) in the Ukui sector of Lubuk Kembang Bunga Village, Ukui District, Pelalawan Regency.

The animal was found in a gruesome condition, sitting upright with its head and trunk severed and its tusks missing.

Police suspect the protected animal may have been deliberately killed, though investigators say the inquiry remains ongoing.

“We are still investigating the cause of the elephant’s death. Crime scene processing and witness examinations are underway,” said First Inspector I Gede Yoga Eka Pranata, head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at Pelalawan Police, in a written statement on Thursday, 5 February.

Discovery Made After Foul Smell Noticed

The carcass was first discovered on the evening of Monday, 2 February, by a plantation worker named Winarno, who reported detecting a strong odour coming from a forested area within the concession.

After tracing the smell, he encountered the remains of the elephant and immediately alerted company security personnel.

“I didn’t know what had happened, but I immediately reported it,” Winarno said.

Local police units from Pelalawan and Ukui later secured the site, followed by the deployment of a joint investigative team comprising officers from the Riau Police Special Criminal Investigation Directorate, forensic laboratory specialists, forestry police officers, and personnel from the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA).

Authorities subsequently conducted a necropsy at the site, while forensic experts collected soil and environmental samples to determine the time and cause of death.

Pelalawan Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner John Louis Letedara confirmed that investigations are ongoing.

“The animal was found in a sitting position with its head severed. We are still working to establish how the incident occurred,” he said on Friday, 6 February.

Possible Poaching Motive Under Investigation

Although investigators have yet to confirm motive, conservation experts note that elephants are often targeted for their tusks, which are traded illegally in wildlife markets.

The absence of tusks from the carcass has raised suspicion that the animal may have been killed for ivory.

The Sumatran elephant is listed as critically endangered, with habitat loss and poaching identified as the main threats to the species’ survival.

Expanding plantations, infrastructure development, and human settlement have fragmented elephant habitats across Sumatra, increasing conflict between wildlife and humans.

Elephants frequently enter plantation areas in search of food, sometimes resulting in crop damage and retaliatory killings by humans.

Police have pledged to pursue those responsible.

“We will continue efforts to protect wildlife in our jurisdiction,” said I Gede Yoga Eka Pranata.

Company Pledges Cooperation

PT RAPP expressed concern over the incident and said it would cooperate fully with authorities.

“RAPP respects and fully submits to the investigation process by BBKSDA and the Indonesian National Police, and is committed to supporting every stage of legal handling by authorised institutions,” said Disra Alldrick, the company’s Corporate Communications Manager, in a statement.

He added that the company remains committed to managing its concession areas responsibly and addressing human-wildlife conflict through cooperation with government agencies and other stakeholders.