Elephant Dies in Tebo, Investigation Team Blocked by Mass During Necropsy

JAMBI, KOMPAS — The obstruction by the masses regrettably occurred in the midst of an investigation into the discovery of the death of a Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) in a state forest in Tebo Regency, Jambi. The wildlife conservation team is investigating the cause of the elephant's death to see if it is related to a tenure conflict in the forest based on an ecosystem restoration concession.

The Head of the Jambi Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Agung Nugroho, expressed regret over the incident of the obstruction. Regardless, his team continues to investigate the death of the elephant. "We are awaiting the laboratory test results and investigating the cause of the elephant's death," said Agung on Wednesday (30/4/2025).

The Head of the Regional Section of the Jambi Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Martialis Puspito, added that his party is encouraging the resolution of conflicts and pressures on elephant habitats. Land clearing will narrow the space for elephants. Elephants have been found dead in areas of concessions that have been illegally encroached upon by residents. "The issues of conflict and forest conversion must be addressed immediately to prevent further sacrifices of elephants," he stated.

An elephant was found dead on April 26 in the ecosystem restoration concession area of PT Alam Bukit Tigapuluh (ABT) in Tebo Regency, which is a buffer zone for Bukit Tigapuluh National Park. The report was obtained from the company's officials.

The following day, a joint team consisting of officers and veterinarians from the Jambi BKSDA and the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), along with personnel from PT ABT, checked the location of the dead elephant. The team was divided into two; the veterinary team departed from Jambi City, while the other team set out from Tebo Regency, which is in close proximity to the site of the elephant's death.

While the veterinary team was still on the way, the mahout team from the Elephant Information and Conservation Center of the Jambi BKSDA, along with FZS and ABT officers, arrived at the location first around 3:00 PM WIB. They immediately scoured the area around the dead elephant within a radius of 50 meters.

At 17:15 WIB, an attack by residents occurred. As a result, the windows of PT ABT's operational car were broken.

The masses who blocked the team intended to prevent the team from PT ABT from passing.

Based on information gathered by the BKSDA team, the masses were angry in response to forest security patrol activities that took place some time ago. Officers from PT ABT were reported to have destroyed oil palm plants cultivated by the residents. The company's patrol team also burned down the residents' huts while they were away.

The Head of the Administrative Section of the Jambi BKSDA, Hendrimon, added that the team has collected feces and soil samples around the elephant bones for toxicology and infectious disease testing. The samples were sent to the Bukittinggi Veterinary Laboratory. They are still awaiting the laboratory test results. "The samples were sent to the laboratory for toxicology and infectious disease testing (on the elephant)," he said.

The Operational Manager of PT ABT, Taufiq Hidayat, in his statement, confirmed the occurrence of an incident involving a blockade by a mass of people. Prior to the blockade, the team was patrolling and discovered a dead elephant. The location was in Block I of the company's concession area, specifically in Suo-Suo Village, Sumay District, Tebo.

After the discovery, the team built a flying camp to guard the animal carcass until the Jambi BKSDA team arrived to verify and investigate the cause of death.

However, on Wednesday night, the villagers visited the location and expressed their objections to the presence of the ABT team there. They requested that the team leave the location the following morning.

The next day, a joint team from ABT and FZS observed the location and documented the condition of the elephant carcass. The team found several suspicious indications, such as signs of land clearing beneath the tree stand.

The situation heated up in the afternoon with a blockade by the masses. In response to the incident of the discovery of a dead elephant as well as the blockade and anarchic actions experienced in the field, they took several measures.

"We reported the incident to the police, including the obstruction of state officials (BKSDA Jambi) and intimidation against the PPH team, in order to encourage law enforcement against individuals who commit violence and obstruct the official investigation process," he said.

In addition, they installed warning signs and prohibitions against land clearing without permission in the ecosystem restoration concession area. This serves as a measure to prevent illegal encroachment of the forest.