Jakarta, IO – Two Sumatran elephants were spotted walking across Nagari Durian Gadang, Sijunjung, West Sumatra after 43 years, reported Sindonews, Friday (17/2).
The appearance of the two male Sumatran elephants was first reported by local residents, around Wednesday (14/2), 6am WIB. The video was uploaded by @sijunjung_traveling.
The location is believed to be in an oil palm plantation area. The West Sumatra Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA) immediately formed a special team to monitor the elephants.
“This is a historic sighting since 1980 in South Solok,” said West Sumatra BKSDA head Ardi Andono.
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Ardi presumed that they came from Bungo Jambi near border where they were sighted in 2014. He said his agency has coordinated with the management of the Silokek Geopark, the local forestry agency and the police to protect them from hunters. (un)