Sumatran elephant found dead in Aceh, suspected electrocution

Aceh’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency, or BKSDA, confirmed the discovery of a female Sumatran elephant in Karang Ampar Village, Central Aceh District. In a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday, BKSDA Aceh head Ujang Wisnu Barata said initial examinations showed the elephant, estimated to be around 20 years old, likely died on Friday night, Feb. 20. The carcass was found in a resident-owned plantation area, and authorities suspect the elephant was electrocuted by a high-voltage electric wire installed at the site. “The installation of high-voltage electric wires poses serious risks, not only to wildlife but also to human life, including our families and surrounding communities,” Ujang said. He said the agency received a report from residents on Saturday, Feb. 21, about the death of the protected animal. Following the report, a BKSDA Aceh team, accompanied by officers from the Karang Ampar police sector, community security personnel and representatives from WWF Indonesia, inspected the scene. When discovered, the elephant’s trunk was still entangled in the electric wire, indicating possible electrocution as the cause of death, authorities said. Police have cordoned off the area while awaiting a veterinary team traveling to the site to conduct a necropsy and oversee the burial process. Ujang reiterated a warning against the use of high-voltage electric fencing, stressing that such practices endanger protected wildlife and can also threaten public safety. The Sumatran elephant is listed as critically endangered, with habitat loss, habitat loss and poaching contributing to a declining population across Sumatra. As per figures published on the official website of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the population of Sumatran elephants is estimated to be about 2,400–2,800 individuals. The world’s leading organization on wildlife conservation and endangered species has said that ivory can still be found in markets around Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States and Europe. The WWF has noted that poaching for the illegal ivory trade remains a serious threat to the lives of wild elephants in several countries. Related news: Riau police find projectiles near decapitated Sumatran elephant Related news: Brutal killing of Sumatran elephant sparks police manhunt in Riau Translator: Prisca TV, Rahmad Nasution Copyright © ANTARA 2026