Wild elephant herd demolishes employee housing buildings in Siak, Riau

Siak, Riau — A herd of wild elephants reportedly demolished a building and damaged vehicles at the employee housing complex of PT Arara Abadi’s Tapung District in Kampung Rantau Bertuah, Minas Subdistrict, Siak Regency, Riau Province.

Siak Police Chief Senior Commissioner Sepuh Ade Irsyam Siregar confirmed that the incident occurred on Saturday evening (21 February) and Sunday morning (22 February). He explained that police immediately conducted monitoring and coordinated with the company and relevant parties to ensure the situation remained safe and under control.

“Based on reports from the Minas Sector Police, a herd of approximately 11 elephants entered the employee housing area at around 07:00 Western Indonesian Time. The animals pushed over and demolished the wall of the security quarters and damaged three motorbikes parked at the location,” said Senior Commissioner Sepuh in Siak on Sunday.

He explained that the sequence of events began when the elephant herd was detected in the vicinity of the concession area. The situation gradually became conducive after the herd returned to the forest at around 09:30 Western Indonesian Time.

According to him, there were no casualties in the incident, but police continued to urge all residents and the company to heighten their vigilance, particularly in areas directly bordering wildlife habitats.

“We are prioritising preventive measures and public safety. Personnel on the ground are also coordinating with the company and relevant stakeholders to conduct further monitoring, so that the potential for human-wildlife conflict can be minimised,” he said.

The Siak Police Chief emphasised that elephants entering residential areas is not merely a security issue but is also related to ecosystem dynamics and the increasingly overlapping ranges of wildlife and human activity.

For that reason, the police chief continued, the approach taken is not purely repressive but rather prioritises mitigation and preventive measures. “We call on all parties, including the public and companies, not to take actions that could trigger panic or endanger the animals,” he said.