Young Elephant Found Dead in Tesso Nilo Riau, Land Owner Named Suspect
A case involving a young Sumatran elephant found dead in Tesso Nilo National Park (TNTN) in Pelalawan Regency, Riau, has been uncovered. Police have named the land owner as a suspect in the elephant’s death.
The Director of Criminal Investigation at Riau Police Headquarters, Brigadier General Ade Kuncoro Wahyu, stated that the designation as a suspect was made after investigators held a case review meeting. From the results of this review, a man with initials JM (44), as the land owner, was named as the suspect.
“The individual in question acted as the land owner located within the national park area. The designation as a suspect was made after the process of examining witnesses, experts, and analysing documents and forest area maps,” said Brigadier General Ade Kuncoro in his statement on Monday (2 March 2026).
In this case, the suspect has been charged under Article 40, subsections (1) paragraphs d and e, as well as Article 40A, subsection (1) paragraph d of Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems, with threats of imprisonment of up to 15 years and a maximum fine of 5 billion rupiah.
From police investigation results, at the location where the young elephant’s carcass was found in Lubuk Kembang Bunga Village, Ukui District, Pelalawan Regency, a rope snare was discovered that caused the elephant to become trapped and infected, leading to its death. The location itself is a conservation area of Tesso Nilo.
“The snare was allegedly set illegally and became the primary cause of wounds that resulted in the death of the protected animal,” he added.
Ade Kuncoro explained that based on coordinate verification with mapping experts and zoning specialists, the location was confirmed to be within the conservation forest area of Tesso Nilo National Park as established in the Ministry of Forestry Decree Number 255 of 2004 and Decree Number 6588 of 2014.
Meanwhile, from the examination of the crime scene, palm oil plants and land ownership stakes were found around the location of the carcass. These findings were then further developed.
Investigators then examined a number of boundary witnesses, land managers, and brought in experts to verify the status of the area. From the case review, police then named JM as a suspect.
Brigadier General Ade emphasised that the investigation is still ongoing to explore the possible involvement of other parties, including regarding the practice of setting snares in the conservation area.
“This law enforcement is a manifestation of our commitment to protecting the conservation area and animals protected by law. TNTN is a strategic area that must be safeguarded. Every violation within it will be processed strictly in accordance with applicable legal regulations,” he said.
This case adds to the serious concerns regarding encroachment threats and illegal activities in the Tesso Nilo area, which has long been an important habitat for Sumatran elephants.
Riau Police Headquarters ensures that the investigation process is conducted professionally, based on witness and expert statements, and supported by precise forest area mapping analysis.
“This is not just about one criminal case. It is about maintaining the conservation area so it remains sustainable and ensuring the law is present to protect the ecosystem,” he concluded.