November 5, 2025
PEKANBARU – An eight-year-old girl injured in a wild elephant attack in West Rumbai subdistrict, Pekanbaru, Riau, last week has died after three days of treatment at a local hospital.
West Rumbai Police Chief Adj. Comr. Said Khairul Iman said the victim, identified as Citra, suffered severe wounds to her head and body following the attack. Despite medical efforts to save her, she succumbed to her injuries on Saturday.
“She died on Saturday. I visited her family to pay my respects,” Iman said on Sunday.
He added that the police were coordinating with the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) to prevent further attacks while ensuring the protection of the endangered animals.
“We are working to guide the elephants back to their habitat so they no longer endanger local residents,” he said.
According to Iman, the incident occurred on Oct. 30 at around 5 a.m. when the victim’s father, Sardo Purba, 36, was awakened by loud noises outside their semi-permanent wooden home.
Upon opening the door, he saw an elephant standing in front of the house, with two others nearby. The family grew frightened as the herd lingered around the house. Fearing for their safety, Sardo told his wife and four children to flee through the back door.
However, as the family tried to escape, one of the elephants suddenly chased them down. In the chaos, Citra, the second of four children, fell and was attacked.
Neighbors rushed to help and managed to rescue the girl, who was taken to Arifin Achmad Regional General Hospital (RSUD). She suffered a skull fracture after being trampled and fell into a coma before passing away.
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Officials from the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) were dispatched to the scene immediately after the elephant attack, but by the time they arrived, the herd had moved approximately five kilometers from Sardo’s home.
“We have coordinated with the police and local authorities to ensure the situation remains under control. We urge residents not to act aggressively or provocatively toward the wild elephants. While we understand the fear and shock among the community, aggressive actions could worsen the situation,” agency head Supartono said on October 30.
“Our team is closely monitoring the elephants’ movements to ensure the herd returns safely to its natural habitat. We have also advised residents to report any elephant sightings immediately to the BKSDA or local authorities,” he added.
Supartono explained that West Rumbai Subdistrict borders the Sultan Syarif Hasyim Forest Park, the natural habitat of Sumatran elephants, which remains part of the animals’ traditional roaming area. The area was once forested but has since been converted into farmland.
He said the elephants were likely drawn to the area around Sardo’s home because of the corn plants growing nearby. The BKSDA has advised residents to cultivate crops that elephants tend to avoid, such as citrus, lemongrass, ginger and chili, to help prevent further incidents.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) as critically endangered on its Red List of Threatened Species. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) also includes the species in Appendix I, which provides the highest level of international protection for animals threatened with extinction.
According to data from the Riau BKSDA, the Sumatran elephant population in the province has declined to around 300 individuals, a drop of about 70 percent over the past two decades.
Data from the Rimba Satwa Foundation show that between 2021 and 2023, there were 178 recorded human-elephant conflicts across Sumatra, primarily driven by habitat loss and forest encroachment for palm oil plantations, mining and residential expansion.
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The Sultan Syarif Hasyim Forest Park area has also experienced significant shrinkage in recent years. From its original 6,170 hectares, only about 2,400 ha are now estimated to remain.
Ayat Cahyadi, a member of the Riau Regional Legislative Council (DPRD), has called on the local BKSDA and other relevant authorities to take immediate action to prevent more fatal wildlife conflicts.
“The Riau provincial government must implement a comprehensive strategy to avoid future human-elephant conflicts. One key measure is to enhance and protect the elephant conservation area within Sultan Syarif Hasyim Forest Park, ensuring it is protected from further human encroachment,” Cahyadi emphasized.