Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - WWF Indonesia and Yayasan PEN is concerned by the increasing number of deaths of Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) in Aceh and urged relevant parties to disclose it.
"This case is quite large elephant deaths in recent years. This is an emergency for the protection of elephants in Aceh," said Project Leader WWF Indonesia Aceh Program Office, Dede Suhendra, in Banda Aceh on Monday.
At least seven elephants were found dead in the period April to June 2012 in a number of locations in Aceh oil palm plantation.
WWF again questioned the extent to which the results of investigations conducted by the elephant's death BKSDA Aceh and how law enforcement efforts on this case.
According to Dede Suhendra, to prevent repeated murders of elephants, there should be a clear law enforcement.
There are indications of the elephants that die from eating something that contains a poison that had been placed in the palm garden. Elephants that go into the garden and considered a nuisance.
"We are asking to stop the killing of elephants because it's against the law," said Dede Suhendra.
Foundation PEN urges a thorough investigation over the death of seven elephants in Aceh.
According to Chairman Peña, Jes Putra, elephant deaths has tarnished the name of Aceh, for not being able to protect large-bodied mammals whose status is critical.
Aceh is one of the critical habitat of elephants in Sumatra.
Recorded seven Sumatran elephants died in Aceh for three consecutive months. April and May two elephants died in Aceh Jaya. In June three elephants died in East Aceh and two elephants found dead in South Aceh.
PENA indicated the existence of mafia trade in elephant ivory on the loose in the Aceh.
"Nearly all found the tusks of elephants have been lost and people do not want to tell anyone that cut elephant ivory. Perhaps out of fear," said Jes.
WWF is asking the Government to review Aceh oil palm plantation development in the elephant habitat pockets throughout the province.
The government must change the type of plantation commodities by type are not liked by the elephants.
"It is evident that the development of oil palm plantations that do not pay attention to the elephant ranges, has fueled human-elephant conflict in the field," said Dede Suhendra.
According to him, and the human-elephant conflict also exacerbated by the transmigration settlement and clearing of the road that cuts through the roaming elephants.
"The Government of Aceh should examine all economic activities and development in areas which are pockets of habitat for elephants to avoid human-elephant conflict and the increasingly widespread in Aceh," says Dede.
WWF is currently pushing its own efforts to develop policies for the protection of the four key species such as elephants, tigers, rhinos and orangutans in Aceh. One that will be implemented is to encourage implementation of mitigation protocols and human wildlife conflict in Aceh.
Sumatran elephant population has declined dramatically in the past four years. Institute for World Conservation (IUCN) raising the status of Sumatran elephants keterancaman of "critical" to "critical", just one step from the status of "extinct in the wild".
These Projects Are worst case status compared subpecies other elephants, both in Asia and Africa. Currently the number of Sumatran elephants in the wild is estimated no more than 2,400 head - tail only 2800, which fell 50 percent from the previous population of 3000-5000 individuals in 2007.
Loss of habitat due to conversion of forests is a major cause of decline in elephant populations.
(T.H011)
Source AntaraNews
