Forestry Ministry Reveals How Tapir in Mesuji Was Killed and Cooked

The Ministry of Forestry has revealed that a fragmented forest landscape caused by shifting cultivation and agricultural activities led to a tapir straying from its habitat in Mesuji. This was conveyed by Deputy Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki during a working meeting with Commission IV of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Tuesday. He explained that the case began with a report received by the ministry via its call centre on 2 July 2026. “On 2 July 2026, the Ministry of Forestry received information through the call centre in the form of a video clip of the hunting of a protected tapir, which was dead and cut into three parts, recorded on 1 July 2026,” Rohmat said. Subsequently, a team from the Region III Lampung Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), together with the Lampung Regional Police, Mesuji Resort Police, the Lampung Provincial Forestry Service, and other relevant parties, conducted an investigation involving tracing and information gathering. He stated that the total area of Register 45 Forest is 42,762.09 hectares. However, the area is now heavily fragmented by extensive cultivation and farming, leaving only a small amount of forest cover. “The death of this tapir occurred in the Register 45 Production Forest, managed by the Sungai Buaya Forest Management Unit (KPH) and under a forest utilisation business permit held by PT Silva Inhutani Lampung. The condition of the forest is already fragmented with extensive cultivation and agricultural activities, leaving minimal forest cover,” he explained. “This condition has increased the intensity of interactions between wildlife and humans, marked by the tapir emerging from the forest onto the highway.” Based on the investigation results on 3 July 2026, officers detained four suspected perpetrators, while two others remain on the wanted list. “The BKSDA team coordinated with the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Mesuji Resort Police to detain four suspects, with two others still on the wanted list,” he said. “A number of pieces of evidence, including weapons, video recordings, and parts of the tapir’s body, have also been secured.” The ministry confirmed it is continuing to coordinate with the Mesuji Police to pursue the two remaining fugitives and is committed to overseeing the legal process against all perpetrators. The Ministry of Forestry will also strengthen prevention efforts through socialisation and education targeting communities, local governments, businesses, and educational institutions. It is also urging local governments to issue circulars on the protection of endangered wildlife. “Following up on the case of the protected tapir’s death, we are taking preventive steps to avoid similar incidents through socialisation and education with local governments, businesses, and educational institutions, as well as encouraging local governments to issue a Governor’s Circular on the protection of endangered wildlife,” he stated. “Furthermore, the Environmental Permit holder PT Silva Inhutani Lampung must carry out a wildlife conservation programme in accordance with its obligations. We are committed to seeing this case through to its conclusion while simultaneously strengthening prevention efforts to ensure similar incidents do not recur.”