A SUMATRAN elephant was found dead of suspected poisoning in Tesso Nilo National Park in the Indonesian province of Riau, the national park agency’s head said.
Tesso Nilo National Park Agency head Heru Sutmantoro told local media that the death of the elephant, named Rahman, was first known by its mahout on Wednesday. Rahman did not give its usual response when it was called to eat some fruits, he said on Thursday.
“When it was approached, Rahman was already found lying limp with its left tusk already cut and missing,” Sutmantoro said, adding that rangers of the national park suspected the 46-year-old elephant was paralysed by poison used by poachers before its tusk was cut off.
Veterinarians from the province were called to save the elephant, but it passed away at around 4pm local time. — Xinhua
