Sumatran Elephant Found Dead in Aceh Tamiang Oil Palm Plantation

A Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) was found dead in an oil palm plantation in Kampung Kaloy, Tamiang Hulu District, Aceh Tamiang Regency, on Sunday (9/8/2026).

The Head of Conservation Section I at the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Teuku Irmansyah, confirmed that his office had received a report regarding the death of the protected animal. Officers from the Langsa Regional Conservation Resort have been deployed to the location since Sunday afternoon.

“After receiving the information, officers immediately headed to the location. However, we are still awaiting the latest report from officers in the field regarding the detailed condition,” said Teuku Irmansyah when contacted from Banda Aceh.

Based on initial information, the elephant carcass was found in the oil palm plantation area of Afdeling B Block 34. The Datuk Penghulu (Village Head) of Kaloy, Andi, said that residents found the elephant lying in the middle of a road between palm trees during the day.

“The cause of death is not yet known. We are currently accompanying the police team to the location. The road access to the discovery point is indeed in a damaged condition,” said Andi.

The Sumatran elephant is a wild animal listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with critically endangered status. This species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild if its habitat continues to be disturbed.

BKSDA Aceh continues to urge the public to work together to preserve forest habitats and refrain from actions that could injure or kill protected wildlife. Actions such as setting snares, poisoning, or trading protected wildlife, whether alive or dead, constitute legal violations that may be subject to criminal sanctions in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.