Brutal Killing of Protected Tapir in Lampung Leads to Arrest of Four Suspects

Police have swiftly investigated the killing of a tapir, a protected species, in the Register 45 area of Mesuji Timur District, Mesuji Regency, Lampung. The investigation has led to the identification of six suspects, four of whom have been arrested, while two remain on the wanted list. Mesuji Police Chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner M. Firdaus, confirmed the arrests. The incident began on Wednesday, 2 July 2026, around 3:30 PM local time, when a resident named Sugi spotted the tapir crossing the East Sumatra Highway. The animal then fled into the Register 45 forest area. Once inside the forest, the tapir was allegedly chased by the perpetrators, who speared, slaughtered, and butchered it before distributing the meat to residents. Police acted on the evening of the incident after receiving a report. By 10:55 PM, the Mesuji Police Criminal Investigation Unit had conducted an investigation and arrested four suspects at different locations. The suspects in custody are identified by their initials as Ketut Suwarne (50), Wayan Supatre (30), Tri Suharyanto (45), and Made Putra Yasa (43). Preliminary investigations revealed their respective roles: Ketut Suwarne allegedly speared the tapir, Wayan Supatre chased the animal, Tri Suharyanto slaughtered it, and Made Putra Yasa owned the machete used in the slaughter. Investigators seized evidence including a video recording of the slaughtered tapir, a broken spear, a machete, remaining tapir bones, and processed meat and skin. The perpetrators are charged under Article 40A paragraph (1) letter d of Law Number 32 of 2024, an amendment to Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, which prohibits capturing, injuring, killing, storing, or trading protected wildlife.