Adjunct Senior Commissioner Ungkap Siahaan, head of the Riau Police Forensic Laboratory, said investigators worked with Pelalawan police and the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) to examine the scene.
“At the site, we found two metal fragments suspected to be projectiles from a firearm,” Siahaan said.
The first fragment measured 12.3 millimeters in diameter and 16.3 millimeters long, while the second was approximately 6.94 millimeters long.
Preliminary scientific tests detected lead, copper or brass, gunpowder nitrates, and gunshot residue in both fragments. The specific type of firearm used remains under laboratory investigation.
BBKSDA veterinarian Rini Deswita said a field examination showed the elephant had been shot in the forehead.
“The projectile is still inside the skull, which remains connected to the neck,” Deswita said.
The front of the head, including the forehead, eyes, nose, and tusks, was removed with a sharp weapon. The trunk was also detached.
Authorities suspect poachers cut away half the head to extract tusks exceeding one meter in length.
“The head was not entirely missing, half was cut with a sharp weapon to remove the tusks,” Deswita said.
The elephant measured about 286 centimeters in body length and was estimated to be over 40 years old, originating from the Tesso Tenggara habitat.
“The elephant had been dead for more than 10 days before discovery. After examination, the carcass was buried at the site,” Deswita added.
The Indonesian government has listed Sumatran elephants among the critically endangered mammals in the country.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the population is estimated at only 2,400–2,800 individuals.
The organization noted that ivory can still be found in markets around Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States and Europe.
The organization noted that poaching for the illegal ivory trade remains a primary threat to wild elephants globally.
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Translator: Bayu AA, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Arie Novarina
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