Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - East Aceh District Head, H Hasballah HM Thaib, has ordered a probe into the killing of several elephants in the district.
"This is an environmental crime. We are concerned about the case where several elephants fell prey to the trap, leading to their death," he said on Wednesday.
He pointed out the recent case where a baby elephant and two adult elephants were trapped in the hinterland, which tarnished the image of East Aceh both at the national and international levels.
It appeared that the East Aceh district government had turned a blind eye to the crime. As a matter of fact, the perpetrators were from other regions, he said.
"The number of elephants killed due to conflicts and hunting in East Aceh is about six to 10. This year, no dead elephants have been detected, except the three trapped elephants," he said.
He further urged state electricity company, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), to control the electrical flow to several plantations and farmlands. The electrical flows are frequently used for plantation fences.
"Consequently, (a few) elephants were killed due to electrical shock. Not only elephants but several people in East Aceh too died after they came in contact with the electrical fences," he said.
East Aceh district head orders probe into the killing of elephants
A natural resources conservation team rescued an elephant calf which fell prey to a trap in East Aceh's hinterland (Antara Aceh/Dok BKSDA Aceh)
