Pekanbaru: The population of Sumatran elephants at the Balai Raja Wildlife Conservation area dropped further to only seven after a female elephant named Dita died this week.
"Seven elephants are remaining in Balai Raja. They live in two to three groups," head of the Riau Natural Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Suharyono remarked here on Tuesday, October 8, 2019.
According to the official, the conservation area, earlier covering an area of 18 thousand hectares, has narrowed to only 150 hectares.
The area, where the 25-year-old Dita was found dead within the conservation area, has been changed to make way for housing, government offices, and palm oil plantation.
Habitat loss has forced the elephants to enter the palm oil plantation, and the local residents view the species as a pest.
Suharyono attributes Dita's death to her illness.
"Based on our preliminary observation, her death was due to an ailment. It is a female elephant, no ivory, so probably her death was not due to poaching," he elaborated.
The Riau BBKSDA team arrived at the location where the elephant was found dead in Pinggir, Bengkalis to conduct an autopsy.
"A more complete identification would be made available after the medical team completes its necropsy," Suharyono stated. (Antara)
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