A number of cases of deaths caused by Sumatran elephants were killed during the year 2012. However, no thorough investigation elephant killers.

KOMPAS.com / Daspriani Y Zamzami

A male elephant was found dead in river basins pathetic Kuyun Pante village, District Setia Bakti, Aceh Jaya. Allegedly killed by wild elephant was poisoned. Over the last two weeks, two wild elephants were killed in the same district, and allegedly the same cause that is poisoned. Currently, only about 400-500 wild Sumatran elephant population in the province.

A number of cases of deaths caused by Sumatran elephants were killed during the year 2012. However, no thorough investigation elephant killers.

Kuppin Simbolon, Head of Tesso Nilo National Park, said it in a press conference memorandum penandatangana elephant population-based research collaboration between WWF Indonesia DNA with institutions Eijkman Molecular Biology, Monday (01/14/2013).

According Kuppin, throughout the year 2012, there were 17 cases of deaths of elephants in Riau. Two deaths occurred in the national park. The rest occurred outside the region, which means around the palm and acacia plantations.

"There has never been the case that the investigation is complete elephant," he said.

Kuppin outlines, of the deaths, which were undergoing the process of investigation is now only 3 cases. One of them is the Sumatran elephant deaths in Sei Tread Lubuk Kembang Bunga village, Pelalawan, Riau, the last in May 2012.

For that's the case, the suspect has not been established. "Still waiting for a key witness. Suspects actually live haul, but according to investigators, it is not easy to define people as suspects."

Sunarto Ph.D., program coordinator for the Tigers and Elephants WWF Indonesia, said the law enforcement in the case of wildlife is still weak. While at the same time, many endangered species live in unprotected areas.

"Habitat tiger for example, 80 per cent outside the conservation area. They are not protected," he said.

Sumatran elephants themselves are very vulnerable. Sumatran elephants Tessonilo estimated there are 60-80 tail. Individuals in and out of the conservation area. Outside the conservation area, there are oil fields. Because it is often considered pests, and duracun hunted elephants.

WWF Indonesia and the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology research cooperation to determine the population of Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatrensis) in Tesso Nilo, Riau.

Monday (14/01/2013), WWF and the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology signed a cooperation memorandum. Attending the event were Director of the Eijkman Prof Marzuki Sangkot, Prof Herath Sudojo and CEO of WWF Indonesia, Dr Efransjah.

Efransjah said, "The management of the elephant and its habitat requires accurate information, among others, about the population status and distribution of elephants."

According Efransjah, precise information about the Sumatran elephant could be the basis for determining the intervention or management action to preserve endangered species that. Appropriate measures to determine the success of conservation interventions.

Herath said, the estimated population of Sumatran elephants in joint research is done on the basis of DNA analysis.

DNA analysis was able to uncover the number of individuals, distribution, sex ratio and kekerabatannya one another. Through this analysis, it can be also compared the characteristics of Sumatran elephants in the region of Sumatra Tessonilo with others, such as the Way Kambas National Park and Bukit Thirty.

Sumatran elephant population estimates program at Tessonilo also involves Tesso Nilo National Park Authority, and the Ministry of Forestry Indonesia institute of Science (LIPI).

Sangkot said, in this cooperation, Eijkman send staff to training Tessonilo to provide DNA samples correctly. Furthermore, Eijkman will help perform DNA extraction, amplification and analysis.

Non Invasive

Herath outlines, Sumatran elephant population count starts from the DNA-based sampling feces.

"At the feces out of the digestive tract, the mucus from the intestines will be brought, also brought epithelial cells. Of mucus and epithelial cells were obtained DNA samples," said Herath. In the population census, taken as a nuclear DNA samples.

Non-invasive way has its advantages. With a population of fewer and fewer elephants, researchers do not need to hurt the elephants to draw blood or body cells in order to obtain DNA samples.

Having obtained a DNA sample, DNA extraction process performed. Each individual within a species have genetic variants. Unique genetic code called genetic markers. From that information, the number of individuals in an area can be known.

Genetic markers can also be used to determine the habitat and distribution of the Sumatran elephant following genealogical kinship with other individuals.

Before working with WWF Indonesia, Eijkman also been researching Sumatran elephants in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park and Way Kambas. The results of DNA analysis has been owned but not yet analyzed.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) set Sumatran elephants as endangered species. Its population dropped dramatically over the last 25 years. estimates so far, the population of elephants in Riau declined from about 1300 in 1984 to head the tail 300-330 in 2009.

During the year 2012, there were at least 17 cases of dead Sumatran elephants in Riau. Two of them died in the elephant park. Now three cases of elephant deaths middle investigated.