Dua Gajah Mati di Kawasan BAT, Investigasi Dimulai

Two elephants were found dead in the consignment area of PT. Bentara Agra Timber (BAT) in the Kawasan Hutan Produksi (HP) of Air Teramang, Kabupaten Mukomuko, Provinsi Bengkulu. One was an adult and the other a calf whose sex is not yet known.

The police chief of Bengkulu, Irjen Mardiyono, ordered an investigation into the cause of death. He said the investigation would be followed by a formal prosecution if any criminal violation is found.

"Kemarin kami mendapat informasi dari masyarakat ditemukan dua bangkai gajah di Kabupaten Mukomuko, saat ini kami sedang melakukan penyelidikan apa penyebab kematiannya dan akan ditindaklanjutinya dengan penyidikan," ujar Mardiyono, Jumat, 1 Mei 2026.

"Apabila hasil penyelidikan dan penyidikan maka kami akan tindak secara profesional," tegas Mardiyono.

The head of the Regional Section I of the Conservation of Natural Resources Agency (BKSDA), Said Jauhari, confirmed the discovery. He said the information came from the community and that the community reported it to him.

"Kami awalnya mendapatkan informasi ada dua gajah mati itu dari masyarakat kemudian masyarakat melapor kepada kami," kata Said Jauhari.

Upon receiving the report, BKSDA dispatched a team to the site to carry out a necropsy, a systematic post‑mortem examination, to determine the cause of death.

"Tim sekarang sudah menuju lokasi untuk melakukan nekropsi untuk mengetahui penyebab kematian," jelas Said.

The location is in Bentang Sebelat, an area that serves as a protected habitat and play area for elephants. The elephants’ lives are increasingly disrupted by extensive forest clearing for illegal palm oil plantations.

Investigating the deaths is essential because the presence of elephants in Bentang Sebelat shows that the area still supports wildlife, yet illegal activities threaten their survival.