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.
Two veterinarians perform check on Dona, a 45-year-old female elephant, which declared dead on Nov. 16, 2025, due to ilnesses, at the Way Kambas National Park in East Lampung, Lampung. (Courtesy of Way Kambas National Park/-)
mid 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.
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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.