The Sumatran elephant was found dead in the Duri area of PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia in Bengkalis district, said Heri who had evacuated the ill-fated animal`s body.
The authorities from Riau province`s natural resources conservation agency (BKSDA) had attempted to help the ailing elephant by giving it bottles of infusion and taking its blood sample, he said.
"Bottles of infusion have been given and a blood sample has even been taken to find out the causes of that elephant`s sickness," Heri said.
The BKSDA authorities had also brought a tame elephant from Minas elephant training center to help it, he said adding that the BKSDA and WWF authorities had conducted an autopsy on the dead elephant.
Near the dead elephant, there were two baby elephants.
Samsuardi of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Riau province said the wild elephant could have been poisoned and it was the sixth elephant which died this year.
Along with its two babies, that ill-fated elephant was found blocking an asphalted street to Cendana housing complex in Balai Raja vilage on March 21.
The housing complex for teachers was located next to an oil-producing company, Chevron, Berton Panjaitan, a local resident, said.
Conflicts between elephants and humans remain a serious problem to the people of Bengkalis.
In November 2010, for instance, tens of wild Sumatran elephants repeatedly invaded Petani village, Mandau subdistrict, Bengkalis district over a period of several days.
The wild elephants` presence had forced many of the villagers to stay home as working on their farms as usual had become risky.
The Petani village`s head, Rianto, said that situation had made his people stay at home rather than going to their farmings.
In June 2010, a herd of wild elephants also attacked Petani village, damaging four houses.
The wild animals also killed a resident recently. The villagers, whose houses were damaged, took refuge at their in relatives` houses and neighbors.(*)
(R013/HAJM/f001)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
