Pekanbaru, Riau, (Antarariau.com)- More than 145 Sumatran elephants have died mysteriously and tragically over the past 10 years, said spokesman for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
"While some were killed in conflicts with humans, others were killed by illegal ivory traders. Only a few died of ailments," WWF"s Riau Program spokesman Syamsidar said here Friday.
He regretted that of more than a hundred elephant death cases, only a few had been uncovered and brought to court.
The last illegal ivory trade case that was brought to court was in 2005.
No other cases of elephant killings had been brought to court, he added.
"Therefore, we have huge hopes on the Riau Police that is currently handling an illegal ivory trade case," he stated.
The Riau Police recently detained some poachers and named seven of them suspects for illegally supplying ivories to international markets.
Riau Police Chief Brigadier General Dolly Bambang Hermawan remarked he would jointly conduct a thorough investigation into the illegal ivory trade case with the Jambi Province police.
"We are involving the Jambi Province police as the same poachers have killed elephants for tusks in Jambi forests," he noted.
Syamsidar pointed out that the WWF hoped the poachers would be awarded stern punishments for poaching elephants and illegally trading their tusks.
"This criminal activity had been going on for a long time. But, it was revealed only this year. We appreciate the police for unearthing it," he added.
