Forestry Minister Revokes Two Forest Utilisation Permits Following Death of Two Elephants in Bengkulu
JAKARTA - The Forestry Minister, Raja Juli Antoni, has revoked two Business Approval for Forest Utilisation (PBPH) permits as a consequence of the deaths of two Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) in the Mukomuko Regency area, Bengkulu.
“Two elephants were found dead. Therefore, I will revoke the PBPH of PT API and PT BAT, and I have also instructed the law enforcement unit to pursue the existing indications of criminal offences, so it will not stop at administrative revocation but will extend to criminal proceedings,” Raja Juli stated in his remarks on Thursday (7/5/2026).
The Indonesian Forestry Minister announced the decision following an evaluation of the activities of both companies.
According to him, the government had previously imposed obligations on the companies to carry out ecosystem restoration, but these were not implemented optimally.
“Specifically for the latest tragedy of the two elephants dying in Bengkulu, we have met with elephant activists and influencers. The Deputy Minister had visited Seblat a long time ago, and I personally have set foot there. We decided that the two companies, PT BAT and PT API, must fulfil their ecosystem restoration obligations, but upon evaluation, it was found that they were not carried out,” he explained.
This PSI politician added that various other violations were also discovered in the companies’ concession areas.
Some of the violations include indications of illegal logging and the planting of oil palm that contravenes regulations in areas that should be restored.
“This includes illegal logging and illegal oil palm planting. We have started to address it by revoking the planted oil palms again, but since their obligation to carry out restoration was not fulfilled, I have ordered the revocation,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, regarding the exact cause of the two elephants’ deaths, Raja Juli stated that the necropsy process is underway in a laboratory.
“In that context, a necropsy is now being conducted to determine the cause. It is currently in the lab in Bogor, and we will announce the cause later,” he said.
It was previously reported that the two elephants were found dead in the Mukomuko Regency area, Bengkulu, on Wednesday, 29 April 2026.
The Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) first learned of the information from community reports.
On Thursday, 30 April 2026, the BKSDA Bengkulu team, along with veterinarians, conducted verification and initial handling, including preparations for necropsy or autopsy procedures.