Jakarta Globe, Nurdin Hasan, Apr 08, 2014
Banda Aceh. A male Sumatran elephant was found dead in the forest of Teuping Panah Village in West Aceh, allegedly killed for its ivory, officials said on Tuesday.
Listed as critically endangered, there are fewer than 3,000 Sumatran elephants remaining in the wild, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. (AFP Photo/Chaideer Mahyuddin). |
Banda Aceh. A male Sumatran elephant was found dead in the forest of Teuping Panah Village in West Aceh, allegedly killed for its ivory, officials said on Tuesday.
Head of
Aceh’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency [BKSDA] Genman Suhefti Hasibuan
said members of the agency, along with an elephant handler, had departed to the
location to investigate..
“Based on
reports from a local village chief, the elephant was said to have died a week
ago,” Genman told the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday. “The team has had difficulty
reaching the location, as there are still a herd of elephants [at the
location]. We are bringing an elephant handler to drive away the herd.”
Many
scientific reports have claimed that elephants engage in long mourning rituals
for their dead, which could be the why the group of animals has remained at the
supposed location. To get to the specific area, the team must take a 6-hour
long trek into the jungle.
Genman said
the agency cannot yet confirm how the elephant died, but according to an
investigation conducted by local police and testimony from residents around the
area, the elephant was murdered for its tusks.
“It was
initially reported that two elephants were found dead, but the village chief
insisted that there was only one,” he said. “We will know for sure once the
team reaches the location.”
Meanwhile,
a local villager claimed the elephant’s tusks were removed with a chainsaw.
“There was
a trap around a tree,” said the resident, who declined to be identified. “We
suspect ivory hunters put the trap there.”
Genman said
that this was the province’s second recorded elephant death this year; an
elephant was killed in February after it was caught in a hog trap set up by
locals in Southeast Aceh.
“It was not
meant to kill the elephant — there were hog pests in the plantation area,” he
said.
Elephants
living in Aceh have suffered in recent years. Increasing deforestation in the
province has resulted in increasing habitat loss and more human and elephant
conflicts. Even over the past three months, 20 cases of elephant-related
disturbances have been recorded in Aceh.
“It takes a
group effort involving all parties from the regional administration, BKSDA and
local people to handle the conflicts. If not, the conflicts will
continue,” Genman said.
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