TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A Sumatran elephant was found dead in Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh, after floods and landslides rampaged Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra this week.
The carcass of the Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) was discovered in the village (locally known as a Gampong) of Meunasah Lhok, Meureudu District, on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
As quoted from Antara, the elephant was found in an isolated area due to flash floods from the Meureudu River. This location is only accessible through a two-hour trek on foot.
The elephant was submerged in a pile of logs and mud carried by floodwater. Half of its body was buried with its head facing downwards.
"There are no elephants in this village, the residents have never seen elephants because they usually reside in the forest. It's the first time we have seen a dead elephant due to a flood," said Muhammad Yunus, a resident of Meunasah Lhok village who checked the elephant's carcass, to Antara.
As of Saturday, the elephant's carcass has not been evacuated and is still trapped under the flood debris. Yunus stated that the residents are unable to move the elephant's carcass due to the difficult terrain and lack of adequate equipment.
He suspects that the animal was swept by the flood from the upstream forest. "We were also surprised to see many large logs carried here. I have never seen such large pieces of wood before," he said.
Deforestation Plays Part?
Meanwhile, Deputy Regent of Pidie Jaya, Hasan Basri, said he has received the news about the dead elephant, but could not confirm whether the flash floods were triggered by deforestation.
Nevertheless, Hasan admitted that many pieces of logs were washed away, causing severe damage to the residents' homes, public facilities, schools, and places of worship in Pidie Jaya.
"Until today, we do not know the conditions on the mountain. We don't know if this piece of wood was caused by logging. InsyaAllah, after this, we will check on the condition of the forest," he said.
Tempo asked for confirmation about the discovery to the Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) of the Ministry of Forestry, Satyawan Pudyatmoko. The message sent to Satyawan's WhatsApp number remains unanswered.
35 Killed in Floods and Landslides in Aceh
Flash floods and landslides have hit the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra in the past week. Based on data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as of Friday night, November 28, 2025, the death toll in these three regions has reached 174 people, with 79 people still missing and 12 people injured.
North Sumatra recorded the highest number of fatalities, reaching 116 deaths and 42 still missing. The victims are spread across several regencies such as Tapanuli Tengah, Tapanuli Selatan, Sibolga, and Padang Sidempuan.
According to BNPB data, in the province of Aceh, there were 35 fatalities, 25 missing, and 8 injured. Floods and landslides have occurred across almost all regencies and cities. Bener Meriah, Southeast Aceh, and Central Aceh are the most severely affected areas.
As for West Sumatra, the latest data noted 74 deaths and dozens still missing.
Nandito Putra contributed to the writing of this article
Editor’s Choice: Sumatra Floods Ring Alarm Against Forest Damage from Extractive Industries
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
