Baby elephant rescued from septic tank in Riau

Riau’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency, or BBKSDA, said the incident occurred at a staff housing compound operated by pulpwood firm PT Arara Abadi in Tapung district, Siak regency. BBKSDA Riau head Supartono said the agency received a report from the company about wild elephants damaging employee housing and deployed its Wildlife Rescue Unit, including medics and mahouts from the Minas Elephant Training Center. “About 10 elephants rampaged and trumpeted while damaging six employee dormitory rooms,” Supartono said in Pekanbaru on Sunday. After the herd retreated to a nearby protected forest area, rescuers heard a calf crying and found it trapped inside a septic tank about 2 to 2.5 meters deep. The team pulled the calf out manually, completing the evacuation in around 45 minutes. The animal was later confirmed to be in good health. Rescuers immediately returned the female calf, estimated to be about seven days old, to its herd, where it successfully rejoined the group. Supartono said the calf was likely born in the adjacent greenbelt forest behind the housing complex. He added that the herd’s aggressive behavior may have been triggered by the calf’s distress calls. The housing area borders a protected forest frequently used as a migration corridor by elephants from the Petapahan/Minas herd. On Saturday night, Feb. 21, employees saw three to four elephants in the company’s greenbelt, about 10 meters from the housing complex, an occurrence officials described as common. However, between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. local time on Sunday, Feb. 22, shortly after the pre-dawn Ramadan meal, around 10 elephants returned and knocked down parts of the housing structures. Employees fled the complex to seek safety. The herd left the area at about 9:30 a.m., authorities said. Related news: Indonesia, India partner to revitalise elephant hospitals in Sumatra Related news: From hope to loss: Tari’s death and the fight to save elephants Translator: Bayu AA, Rahmad Nasution Copyright © ANTARA 2026