February 6, 2026 | 10:46 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Directorate of Special Crimes (Ditreskrimsus) of the Riau Regional Police is investigating the death of a Sumatran elephant within the PT Riau Andalan Pulp Paper (RAPP) concession in the Ukui Sector, Lubuk Kembang Bunga Village, Ukui District, Pelalawan Regency, Riau. The male elephant died in a sitting position, without tusks, with its head and trunk severed.
"We are still investigating the cause of the elephant's death," said the head of the criminal investigation unit at Pelawawan Resort Police, Pol. Comm. Adjt. I Gede Yoga Eka Pranata, in a written statement to Tempo on Thursday, February 5, 2026. "Forensic examination of the crime scene, and taking witness statements."
The protected animal was found dead by a worker, Winarno, on late Monday, February 2, 2026. He first caught a whiff of a foul smell from inside the protected forest area within RAPP's permit. "I didn't know what had happened, but I immediately reported it to authorities," he said.
Authorities then came to the location to perform a necropsy on the elephant carcass at the site.
"The investigation is still ongoing and the police hope to find the perpetrators responsible for the death of this elephant," emphasized Pol. Comm. Adjt. I Gede Yoga Eka Pranata. "We are committed to protecting the wildlife in our area."
Tempo reached out to the Head of Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Supartono, for additional information. However, he has not responded to the message sent to his WhatsApp number.
Meanwhile, PT RAPP expressed deep concern over the incident, assuring that it continues to coordinate with relevant institutions to support the case handling.
"RAPP respects and fully submits to the investigation process by the Riau BKSDA and the Indonesian Police, and is committed to and supports every stage of legal handling by each authorized institution," said Disra Alldrick, Manager of Corporate Communications at RAPP, in a written statement to Tempo.
He added that the company will continue to fulfill its commitment to managing the area and addressing conflicts with wildlife through coordination and cooperation with the government and stakeholders.
Read: Way Kambas National Park Closes Amid Elephant Conflicts
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