Because protecting elephants is maintaining the balance of nature. And protecting Tesso Nilo is maintaining the dignity of this nation,
Jakarta (ANTARA) - A sad news just broke for the animal lovers when a baby elephant was reported to have died in Tesso Nilo National Park, Riau Province.

Kalistha Lestari (Tari), a two-year-old female Sumatran elephant calf, was found dead in the national park’s Elephants Flying Squad, Lubuk Kembang Bunga, Pelalawan Regency, Riau, on Wednesday (September 10, 2025).

According to Heru Sutmantoro, Head of Tesso Nilo National Park, Tari seemed healthy and was playing as usual on Tuesday—the day before her death. The mammal's appetite was also normal, and her condition appeared stable, with no signs of illness or weakness.

However, the following morning, the mahout on duty found Tari lying motionless. Shortly afterward, a veterinarian performed a physical examination and declared the calf dead.

Thousands of netizens shared their condolences on Tesso Nilo’s Instagram account, which reported Tari's death.

Tari was one of the elephants in Tesso Nilo who often captured the attention of netizens for her cute and adorable demeanor.

Since her birth on August 31, 2023, to a mother named Lisa and a wild male elephant, Tari had been seen as a symbol of hope for the future of Sumatran elephant conservation, whose habitat is increasingly threatened.

In fact, Tari, along with another calf, Domang, was made an honorary citizen of Riau in July 2025.

In one Instagram post, Tari was wearing a white flower headband. To get the headband on her, the mahout had to coax the calf with brown sugar.

The post received thousands of likes, and many netizens praised Tari's beauty.

"Rest in peace, our dear. Your cute and adorable behavior will be greatly missed. Love you, little one," wrote Tesso Nilo National Park in a black-and-white video post that captured memories of Tari's life.

Related news: Government intensifies Tesso Nilo National Park restoration efforts


Cause of death

Initial examination results showed no injuries or trauma to the calf's body. However, her stomach appeared slightly bloated.

To determine the exact cause of Tari's death, doctors performed a necropsy and took organ samples for laboratory testing.

"The samples will be sent to Bogor for further analysis," Sutmantoro said.

The Tesso Nilo National Park Office stated its commitment to awaiting laboratory test results as a scientific basis for determining Tari's cause of death. He confirmed that official results would be released once the laboratory tests were complete.

The Riau Regional Police is also investigating Tari's death, having deployed a special team to investigate the protected animal's case.

The cause of the calf's death remains unknown. Preliminary suspicions of poisoning are still being investigated.

"The possibility of poisoning is currently under investigation; we will announce it later," said Head of Sub-Directorate IV of the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Riau Regional Police, Police Adjunct Chief Commissioner Nasrudin.

In addition to Tari, 23 Sumatran elephant deaths have been recorded in Tesso Nilo National Park in the past 10 years.

The causes range from poisoning, poaching, disease, to the shrinking of their habitat.

One of the most prominent cases was the death of a trained elephant named Rahman in January 2024, suspected of being poisoned. Rahman's left tusk was also cut off and lost.

Related news: Govt to replicate Aceh elephant corridor in Lampung to curb conflict


Challenging

Tari’s death is not just an individual loss, but a major blow to conservation efforts for this endangered species. A thorough investigation is expected to uncover the exact cause and bring justice.

This incident highlights the urgency of protecting Sumatran elephants and the forest ecosystems that serve as their habitat.

Tesso Nilo National Park has long faced conflict over forest encroachment for illegal oil palm plantations and settlements.

This conflict threatens the elephants' survival.

Previously, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) stated that there were allegations of corruption in the conversion of the national park area.

The AGO discovered numerous fake population and land ownership documents circulating in Tesso Nilo.

Indonesia's Forestry Ministry, along with the Garuda Task Force for Forest Recovery, bolstered efforts to restore forest areas of Tesso Nilo misappropriated for purposes other than nature conservation.

The Garuda Task Force has commenced action in the 81,739-hectare Tesso Nilo National Park, of which 40,000 hectares have been encroached upon for illegal palm plantations and settlements.

The task force warned that illegal activities in Tesso Nilo have led to severe forest degradation and a continued decline in the native elephant population over the past two decades.

Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan, who named Tari as his ‘foster child’, emphasized the calf as a symbol of environmental protection and the reciprocal relationship between humans and nature.

Heryawan has been actively promoting the need for green policing and his commitment to the survival of animals in Tesso Nilo.

He called on all parties, including businesspeople, to restore Tesso Nilo's role as a national park, where animals can live in harmony without being threatened.

He once went viral for his statement, "I represent the elephants in Tesso Nilo," when confronted by a crowd demonstrating against relocation from the national park area.

"Because protecting elephants is maintaining the balance of nature. And protecting Tesso Nilo is maintaining the dignity of this nation," he noted in his Instagram post.

Expressing his condolences for the passing of the baby elephant, Heryawan emphasized that Tari's death should serve as momentum to strengthen awareness of protecting the natural environment.

Related news: Indonesia boosts elephant protection on Prabowo’s donated land


Initiatives

The Indonesian Forestry Ministry has underscored the urgent need to step up conservation efforts to protect endangered flora and fauna, including Sumatran elephants, with initiatives backed by President Prabowo Subianto.

Among the government initiatives is the Peusangan Elephant Conservation Initiative (PECI) in Central Aceh, being developed on land donated by President Prabowo and currently in progress, to support elephant conservation.

According to the ministry, only 22 elephant habitat zones remain across the Indonesian island of Sumatra, down sharply from 44 identified in the 1980s.

Other endangered species facing similar threats include the Sumatran tiger and three species of orangutans found in Indonesia—the Bornean orangutan, the Sumatran orangutan, and the Tapanuli orangutan.

The Forestry Ministry welcomes partnerships from civil society organizations and other stakeholders, as well as public participation in ecosystem restoration and conservation efforts.

In addition, to help end human-elephant conflicts such as those in Central Aceh District, Aceh Province, the ministry emphasizes the need to economically empower local communities in 12 buffer villages.

Human-elephant conflicts have been a major conservation concern in several Sumatran provinces, including Lampung and Aceh. In several areas of those two provinces, sightings of elephants searching for food have been reported.

According to WWF data, the Sumatran elephant population is estimated at 2,400–2,800.

The organization notes that poaching for the illegal ivory trade remains a serious threat, with ivory still found in markets in Africa, Asia, the United States, and Europe.



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Editor: M Razi Rahman
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