Five Facts About Baby Elephant Trapped in Septic Tank in Riau as Herd Rampages
A herd of wild elephants entered the employee quarters of PT Arara Abadi’s Tapung District in Minas subdistrict, Siak regency, Riau. The elephants went on a rampage after a baby elephant fell into a septic tank.
The incident was reported to have occurred on Sunday (22 February). The baby elephant was successfully evacuated safely from inside the septic tank. Here is a summary of the key facts.
1. Elephant Herd Damages Quarters and Motorcycles
Siak Police Chief Senior Commissioner Sepuh Ade Irsyam Siregar explained that the police immediately conducted monitoring and coordinated with the company and relevant parties to ensure the situation remained safe and under control.
“Based on reports from the Minas Sector Police, a herd of approximately eleven elephants entered the employee housing area at around 07:00 local time. The animals pushed and knocked down the walls of the security quarters and damaged three motorcycles parked at the location,” said Senior Commissioner Sepuh to reporters on Sunday (22 February).
He stated the incident had begun in the early hours of Saturday (21 February) at around 02:00 local time, when the elephant herd was detected in the vicinity of the concession area. The situation gradually became calm by 09:30 local time after the herd returned to the forest and left the employee settlement.
There were no casualties in the incident. However, the employee quarters and several motorcycles were reported damaged.
2. Elephants Came Twice
Police explained the incident began in the early hours of Saturday (21 February). The elephant herd only returned to the forest on Sunday (22 February).
“Initially on Saturday (21 February) at around 22:00 local time, sounds were heard from the direction of the Perapakan River tributary behind the PT Arara Abadi quarters, and eleven wild Sumatran elephants were spotted entering and crossing through the rear yard of the quarters. However, they were successfully driven back into the conservation forest by PT Arara Abadi’s security personnel,” explained Sepuh in his statement on Monday (23 February 2026).
On Sunday (22 February) at around 05:00 local time, the elephant herd returned to the rear yard of the employee quarters.
3. Baby Elephant Falls into Septic Tank
One of the elephants stepped on the concrete cover of a septic tank and fell through.
“It is suspected that the septic tank opening caused a one-week-old baby elephant to fall into the septic tank and become unable to get out,” he explained.
This incident caused the elephant herd to go on a rampage. They damaged the quarters building and motorcycles at the location.
“This caused the herd to then go on a rampage, resulting in damage to the quarters and motorcycles,” he added.
4. Elephant Successfully Evacuated
On the same day at around 09:30 local time, the elephant herd finally left the location and headed into the conservation forest. PT Arara Abadi’s security personnel then inspected the site.
“After inspection, damage to the quarters was found and one baby elephant was discovered trapped inside the septic tank, still alive,” he said.
At 11:30 local time, a team from the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) arrived at the location and carried out the evacuation. 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 subsequently guided towards the conservation forest where the rest of the herd remained,” he said.
5. Police Advisory
Siak Police Chief Senior Commissioner Sepuh Ade Irsyam Siregar stressed that the phenomenon of elephants entering residential areas is not merely a security issue but is also linked to ecosystem dynamics and wildlife roaming ranges increasingly overlapping with human activity. He therefore called for an approach that is not purely repressive but instead prioritises mitigation and preventive measures.
“We urge all parties, including the community and companies, not to take actions that could trigger panic or endanger the animals. If elephant movements occur again, report immediately to the authorities so that the situation can be handled in a measured manner,” said Senior Commissioner Sepuh.