November 28, 2025
PEKANBARU – Amid relentless deforestation and rising human–elephant conflict, two more Sumatran elephant calves have died in Aceh and Riau, deepening concerns for the future of the critically endangered species.
In Aceh, a resident discovered the carcass of a young elephant on his farm in Rikit Musara village, Bener Meriah regency, on Sunday.
Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) head Ujang Wisnu Barata said the female calf was about five years old and had likely been dead for around a day before she was found.
“Authorities have conducted a necropsy and found no signs of violence or external injuries. We have taken internal organs for further analysis,” Ujang said on Tuesday, as quoted by MetroTV.
He added that initial investigations suggest the elephant may have died from poisoning. Two damaged huts were found at the scene, one of which had been used to store pesticide.
“We are investigating the exact cause of death, including whether the elephant may have accidentally ingested the pesticide,” Ujang said.
Ujang added that, prior to the incident, a herd of elephants had been seen near Rikit Musara village, and BKSDA officers had been working to drive the animals back into the nearby forest to prevent conflict with local residents.
Read also: Deaths of two Sumatran elephants affect conservation efforts
The Aceh case occurred just a day after an elephant calf named Laila died suddenly at the Sebanga Elephant Conservation Center in Bengkalis regency, Riau, on Saturday.
Riau BKSDA head Supartono said the one-and-a-half-year-old calf had shown signs of declining health two days earlier. She had become less active than usual, although her appetite and drinking habits remained normal, and she continued to nurse from her mother.
“Our team immediately examined her and administered IV fluids and medication. However, shortly after midnight on Nov. 22, Laila screamed several times without obvious cause. After treatment from veterinarians, she briefly managed to stand, drink and nurse, but a few hours later, at around 5:30 a.m., she died,” he said on Sunday.
Supartono said BKSDA officials have conducted a necropsy to examine Laila’s vital organs and have collected tissue samples for laboratory analysis to determine whether she died from a virus, disease or other causes.
“Laila’s death is a huge blow for the conservation team at the Sebanga Elephant Conservation Center. She was born and raised here, and we are committed to determining the exact cause of her death so it can serve as a lesson for future conservation efforts,” he said.
There have been several Sumatran elephant deaths reported this year, both in conservation facilities and in the wild. Earlier this month, a 45-year-old elephant at Way Kambas National Park in East Lampung regency died from parasitic infections.
In September, a two-year-old calf named Tari was found dead in Tesso Nilo National Park, Riau, with preliminary findings indicating a suspected elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus infection.
In April, another Sumatran elephant was found dead after being electrocuted by an electric fence in Aleu Jang village, Aceh Jaya regency in Aceh.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies Sumatran elephants as critically endangered on its Red List of Threatened Species.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), only 2,400 to 2,800 elephants remain in the wild.
Rampant deforestation has dramatically reduced their natural habitat, driving elephants into increasing conflict with humans. In recent years, several incidents have been reported of elephants dying from poison set by farmers who consider them pests, as well as fatal attacks on humans.
Read also: Eight-year-old girl killed in wild elephant attack in Riau
The species also faces serious threats from poaching, with their tusks highly sought after in the illegal wildlife trade.
Burhanuddin Masyud, an expert in Ecology and Wildlife Management at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), recently reported that around 1,585 hectares of Sumatran elephant habitat in the Seblat landscape, Bengkulu, one of the species’ remaining key habitats, was lost between January 2024 and October 2025. This estimate does not include an additional 4,000 hectares of suspected illegal encroachment, which is believed to have been converted into oil palm plantations.
“This is not just a case of disappearing forest cover. It is a systemic threat that undermines the very foundation of Sumatran elephant survival,” he said last week.
Burhanuddin explained that the lost areas form part of the elephants’ seasonal migration corridors, which serve as routes for movement, sources of food, and critical spaces for natural reproduction.
“Without these corridors, the synchronization of physiological behaviors essential for breeding can be disrupted. When reproduction is hindered, a decline in the population becomes inevitable,” he said.