Sumatran Elephant Found Poisoned In Indonesia

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) — A ranger says an endangered Sumatran elephant has died in a palm oil plantation in western Indonesia, apparently after being poisoned by villagers trying to protect their crops.

Fewer than 3,000 of the animals are left in the wild and environmentalists warn they could be extinct within three decades unless steps are taken to protect them.

Mukhtar, a ranger with Fauna-Flora International, says the 18-year-old elephant was not yet dead when she was found Monday in Aceh province.

Rangers unsuccessfully tried to save her by giving her medicine.

Mukhtar said it is not uncommon for elephants to be poisoned. As forests disappear, elephants stray into inhabited areas in search of food. Villagers trying to protect their property sometimes leave fruits laced with cyanide.

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Comments

[Edy Williams]

07:54 PM on 05/26/2012

Why is there a void for the thoughtful "creamation" of a deceased Elephant to Salvage their Noble DIGNITY!?

[Edy Williams]

07:46 PM on 05/15/2012

May this Mother Elephant have the similar ceremony a Patrol officer had? The children could hold hands with the Vet who tried to save her,in a circle around her poor body! they could cover her with flowers, blossoms, say a prayer & sing a song for her at least. Then a cremation, but not just left to flies. She gave our world a newborn, she deserves a bit of Dignity!

[Edy Williams]

07:43 PM on 05/15/2012

Right there is the burial video ceremony of the slain Patrol Officer. With great, beautiful TRIBUTE!! One see's the children their in the photo of the left body of the dead Mother Elephant,.May she too have her diginity.? The Vet who tried to save her could lead this tribute of Good example, to have them circle her, Join hands in a song & a prayer. She could be covered with their favorite flowers, Blossoms. Possibly a sheet or Blanket.These children in 5-10 years will be the New leaders! .A photo of this would at least be a Positive force here.If you agree she has earned this dedication having given of herself a newborn! Please add a comment! A(all one see's is her body covered in flies!) Buddhists say to touch one brings Enlightenment & they consider them Gods...

[Edy Williams]

08:00 PM on 05/12/2012

dO THE VILLAGE FOLKS EVEN UNDERSTAND: THE eLEPHANT HAS "iNSTINCTIVE dIGNITY", THEY ARE "uNLIKE ANY OTHER IN THE cIVILIZED WORLD! Their courtship lst one year,& it takes 2 long years to have even One baby! They demonstrate "Virtues." They are brillant engineers. In the days of the Romans they were used in war to hurl Javelins! They are good Natured. They set examples of how to survive as Vegetarians. Maybe they should Close the village down where they do these terrible deeds. For Plantation Oil? & where does it wind up??

[Edy Williams]

04:11 PM on 05/10/2012

wHAT OF THEIR TREMENDOUS PRESENCE IN FILMS? wHAT OF THEIR AWESOME, GIANT HUMBLE PRESENCE. tHEY ARE GENTLE, THEY GIVE US STAUS TO HAVE THEM STILL EXIST IN THE YEAR 2012.

[Edy Williams]

06:46 PM on 05/03/2012

When Pygmies create an elephant 'pit' OR "DEADFALL", an elephant falls victum, he will be rescued by elephant ENGINEERS who cave in the earthen walls ir order to construct a crude ramp upon which the imprisoned elephant can walk to his freedom! They have great dignity,they take over TWO years to manage to breed a baby! They are suscepible to emotions, it has been reported they will weep profusely at the death of a comrade. They Have Nobility, the mothers carry the baby with their trunk! they protect each other, & express theiri love by being in the presence of each other.Polite to each other, waiting their turn for a drink of water. They have withn them MAJESTY, Grandeur..to lose them is to have lost a town off the face of the world. A Palm Oil plantation should be VOID of poison..

[FirstBeKind]

09:25 PM on 05/02/2012

If you read the beginning of this article, you will see that the elephant was not "stealing" crops from the natives. He was poisoned in a palm oil plantation. Educate yourselves and read up on palm oil and how these plantations are destroying vast swaths of irreplaceable rain forest. Once gone, rain forests cannot come back. They are the "lungs" of the earth.

Keep it up humans! We're destroying the earth faster every day.

[Edy Williams]

04:02 PM on 05/10/2012

Guess you think a tropical bush is more significant than the greatest living giant in civilization, or what little is left of our elephant friends!

[FirstBeKind]

01:59 AM on 05/11/2012

I'm confused. Did you respond directly to my comment about palm oil? If you think I don't care about elephants, you're mistaken. I do. I just made it clear that the elephant wasn't trampling and raiding the natives crops. He was in a palm oil plantation. Palm oil is slowly and systematically destroying wild life by displacing creatures and causing them to move into areas that they normally wouldn't inhabit They're searching for food and in doing so, they come into conflict with ignorant humans. If these countries don't take the kind of action that prevents this senseless killing, then we will be witnessing the demise of not only elephants, but rhinos, orangutans, lions, tigers and all manner of wild creatures. NO, I DON'T think a tropical bush is more important than an elephant. But we all need to all be conscious of the food we eat because we are COMPLICIT. So many snack foods, e.g. crackers, cookies, etc. contain PALM OIL! I'm a lifelong animal lover, animal rights activist and lover of the Earth. To learn about these ghastly killings makes me very sad and even more convinced that human beings are the most arrogant and ignorant species ont he planet.

[Edy Williams]

06:09 PM on 05/11/2012

They say THEE Elephant is the Largest Giant animal living in the world i n our civilization of TODAY.
One would think tht alone would help save their existance.

[Edy Williams]

07:38 PM on 05/02/2012

These people require FILMS! such as "the eyes of Thailand". tells the heroic story of beautiful elephant who had people save his walking,(his lfoot stepped on a grenade or something!) he wears on left front a "New" leg that is put on each moring & removed for his sleep! That is how much of an "IDOL" he is. the film of his life is playing May 20 Worldfest. the even sell tickets at worldfestevents.com..I met the Lady producer. The ranger have to show a film like this to these natives to explain how valuable, helpful, they could be "employed to pull trees, give rides,be a sight for tourists! But to destroy because they ate some bush is a Big TRAGEDY! We have to all write our comments for it to get accomplished!(you can see this cool big guy at eyesofthailand.com.

[mlaiuppa]

02:34 PM on 05/02/2012

I'll remember that next time they are begging for aid.

[Edy Williams]

08:05 PM on 05/12/2012

Their is an awesome film "The Eyes of THAILAND"..The true story of an elephant with a badly injured foot that hobbled back to its people owners. They made a special foot for him to survive a happy life. It is narrated by Ashley Judd! May these Indonesia people SEE that if they have a theater?!

[karen lyons kalmenson]

08:00 AM on 05/02/2012

to protect crops by killing a sentient being, is sowing evil seeds:(

[mhsden]

05:44 AM on 05/02/2012

Greed kills .

[kwaut lizard]

05:22 AM on 05/02/2012

Palm Oil Plantations are devastating the remaining rainforests of Southeast Asia.

Please choose your cooking oil and oil imbued products with care and concern !!!

[Major lackland]

03:16 AM on 05/02/2012

Now that's news. I wonder why this didn't make my paper.

[mingorajohns]

02:58 AM on 05/02/2012

Where are the tusk? If there was any it will end up for sale on ebay next week disguised as oxbone (code word for new ivory).
Next, they will be mourning the death of a feral cat run over by a 90 year old great grandmother riding on a skateboard down a 150 foot declining hill.

[kwaut lizard]

05:17 AM on 05/02/2012

Female Asian Elephants do not have tusks.

Your incessant demand for cheap cooking oil drives this behavior. Let me connect the dots for you ... Palm Plantation for making Palm Oil for cooking Fried Food for the Fattening and Unhealthy Fast 'Fried' Food Market of the Western Hemisphere.

Now if we can just get you to feel some pangs of responsibility, we'll be in business.

FYI I had the pleasure of watching one of the very few wild Banda Aceh elephant herds make their biannual pilgrimage down the the Indian Ocean to frolic in the surf while taking in there much needed salt. I also bore witness to Sumatran Tigers catching fish in the surf nearby. These areas are destitute of animals now because of palm oil demand, an oil that is extremely unhealthy, on immense single-species plantations with few beneficiaries. So the next time you equate a very clear healthy habitat issue, and how your societies demand for cheap products effects others, with released pets, think twice.

[mingorajohns]

10:33 AM on 05/02/2012

First, where are the tusks? (If there was any) indicate possible male or female gender. Perhaps your anger clouded your textural discernment.
Secondly, Indonesia is not constrained to bow to the demand of any country's desire for palm oil or any other kind of oil. They can cut off the source and make it illegal to purchase and transport. Greed and apathy cuts both ways and so does responsibility..
You connect the dots! It's a matter of supply and demand. Stop the supply and the demand will either diminish or seek another source of acquisition. I am elated to learn that you are concerned about the health and eating habits of americans and hope your concern and resources are equally as effective for the Indonesians.

[mingorajohns]

04:53 PM on 05/04/2012

Obviously, you have hatred for the truth of the Word of God. You cite quotes from all other religious faiths but are fearful of reading Romans:1:18-32. Are you fearful that you might actually find truth and realize that you are a lost sinner just like the rest of humanity, needing redemption and salvation?
By the way. Catholicism is not God's standard of biblical teaching, at best it is heresy. Jesus is the chief corner stone of the New Testament Church which he left in the hands of the 12 apostles and his churches have continued in perpetuity until today.
You place more importance on animals who have no soul than you do on humans who are made in the image of God and God who created them all.
Again, Romans:1;18-32 will enlighten you as to why you hold that view as well as the destiny of those who refuse to acknowledge the truth of God's Word.
I am at peace because I already know the end. In God's time table the heavens and earth shall pass away with a great noise and God will create a new heaven and a new earth wherein only righteousness will dwell. All who are "Born Again' (redeemed of the earth) will be partakers.
Doesn't get any better than that for a free gift of eternal life.

[cannb852]

02:41 AM on 05/02/2012

So when the last elephant has been poached for the ivory and none left, and the last rino has been killed for his horn for some stupid chinese medicine. Whats left they have "killed everything". Then what do the poachers do for $$$$$. I feel for the elephant the pain of being poisioned. A slow death.