Baby Elephant Guided Back to Forest After Rescue from Septic Tank in Riau
Police and the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) evacuated a baby elephant that had fallen into a septic tank at PT Arara Abadi’s staff quarters in the Tapung District, Minas Subdistrict, Siak Regency. The baby elephant was rescued safely and subsequently guided back into the forest.
Siak Police Chief Senior Commissioner Sepuh Ade Irsyam Siregar said the evacuation was carried out on Sunday (22 February) at 11.30 local time in coordination with the Riau BKSDA team. The baby elephant was lifted to the surface using ropes.
“After being successfully removed, the baby elephant was doused with water to clean it of mud and was then guided towards the conservation forest where the rest of the herd was still located,” Sepuh said in a statement on Monday (23 February 2026).
The incident began when a herd of approximately 11 elephants entered the PT Arara Abadi employee quarters on Saturday (21 February) evening. The following morning on Sunday (22 February), the herd returned to the location.
“It is suspected that the septic tank opening caused one baby elephant, only a week old, to fall into the septic tank and become unable to get out,” he explained.
Elephants Go on Rampage
The incident caused the elephant herd to go on a rampage, damaging the staff quarters and a motorbike at the site.
“This caused the elephant herd to then go on a rampage, resulting in damage to the staff quarters and a motorbike,” he added.
On the same day at approximately 09.30 local time, the elephant herd eventually left the location and headed into the conservation forest. PT Arara Abadi’s security team then inspected the site.
“Upon inspection, damage to the staff quarters was found and one baby elephant was discovered trapped inside the septic tank, still alive,” he said.
There were no human casualties in the incident. However, as a result, the walls of the employee quarters were damaged and one motorbike was also destroyed by the rampaging elephants.
Following the incident, police took mitigation measures to anticipate the possible return of wild elephants. The Siak Police Chief also urged the company’s management to establish an early warning system to minimise conflicts with protected wildlife such as Sumatran elephants, and to refrain from taking provocative or counterproductive actions that could harm the conservation of Sumatran elephants.