Indonesian police investigating four elephant deaths

Antara 10 May 11;

Bengkulu, Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Bengkulu police are investigating the death of four wild elephants in surrounding area of PT Alno Agro Utama plantation in North Bengkulu District.

"The case is still under investigation process by Bengkulu Utara police," Head of Bengkulu Police Brig. Gen. Burhanuddin Andi in Bengkulu, Tuesday.

According to him, the initial suspicion indicated that the elephants had eaten fertilizer spread around trees in the plantation and that had lead their death.

However, the case would continue to be investigated although there is no criminal act, he said.

"I think the investigation will continue and in fact BKSDA has already had the authorities to make an investigation because it has personnel for that, and we are ready to help," the Bengkulu police chief said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Bengkulu Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Amon Zamora said his office is still investigating the death of the four Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus Sumatrae).

Based on the autopsy result of one of the four dead elephants, it had eaten fertilizer because there was a high content of nitrogen in its body.

"This is just a preliminary suspicion, because there is salt in fertilizer, and elephant likes it, and it could cause its death," he said.

It is not known yet whether the fertilizer had been put around tree on purpose and the elephants had later eaten them, or the wild elephants had entered the plantation`s warehouse where the fertilizer was kept, he said.

Representative of ProFauna Bengkulu Radius Nursidi has urged the BKSDA and police to investigate the demise of the elephants.

"Because almost every year there is elephant death and BKSDA has given an impression that it tries to cover it up," he said.

During the period of 2004-2007, seven elephants had died in the area. In 2009, two elephants died and one in 2010.

In total, 14 elephants have died from 2004 to 2011, and the perpetrators are never known.

"Ironically, of all those cases, one has been legally process. This has become our note and big question mark toward BKSDA and legal enforcers," he said.(*)

Editor: Heru