Suspect Arrested for Killing Sumatran Elephant with Severed Head in Pelalawan
A combined team from Riau Regional Police Headquarters and Pelalawan Police Resort has arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of a Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatrensis) found with its head severed in an industrial timber plantation concession area.
Herry Heryawan, Head of Riau Regional Police, confirmed the arrest of the suspect and seizure of evidence. However, detailed information will be presented during a press conference in the coming days.
“God willing, next Tuesday we will present details regarding the death, killing or shooting of this elephant,” he said in a statement received in Pekanbaru on Sunday.
Photographic evidence of seized items shows elephant tusks, a long-barrelled firearm, and a number of bullet rounds. The Riau Regional Police Chief assured that this case will be investigated thoroughly and completely.
“Every trace leaves a story, and every story leaves evidence. We will investigate this thoroughly and completely,” he stated.
Previously, a Sumatran elephant was discovered dead in Ukui District, Lubuk Kembang Bunga Village, Ukui Subdistrict, Pelalawan Regency, in the concession area of PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper, on 2 February 2026.
Dr Rini Deswita, a veterinarian at the Riau Large-Scale Natural Resources Conservation Centre, revealed that based on field examination findings, the elephant was shot in the forehead. The bullet projectile was still lodged in the skull and the skull remained attached to the neck.
“The elephant was shot in the forehead. The projectile remains in the skull, and the skull remained attached to the neck,” said Rini.
The front part of the head, including the forehead, eyes, nose and tusks, was missing as it had been cut using a sharp weapon. The trunk was also found separated. The suspect allegedly severed half of the head using a sharp weapon to obtain tusks measuring more than one metre in length.
“So it is not actually that the head went missing, but rather that half of it was cut off using a sharp weapon to obtain the tusks,” she explained.