Animal lovers are outraged after the apparent poaching death of a tame elephant named Yongki in Indonesia's Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. Though there were no signs of struggle, Yongki's tusks were cut off.
After the discovery of 35-year-old Yongki's body, the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park Team together with the mahouts searched the area in a 300-meter radius in hope to find the cause of the 3.3.-ton elephant's death. Finding no trace of evidence in the area and no signs of struggle in Yongki's body, an autopsy was conducted by the park team and NGOs who found a small wound in his tongue.
"Comprehensive investigation effort is required by the Authority to identify and seize the killer. Also important to take mitigation action to avoide another incident in the future," said Anwar Purwoto, director of Sumatra-Borneo, according to WWF.
Investigations show the possibility of poison or anesthetic to be the possible cause of death.
"By recommendation of the veterinary, Yongki's corpse has already burned to avoid possible spread of diseases," as stated by Anwar Purwoto, according to AZ Central.
"We are mourning the loss of an elephant who has been helping us in handling conflicts and helping forest rangers patrol the forest," said Nazaruddin, head of the Indonesian mahouts, according to BBC News.
The #Yongki hashtag was created on social media to express people's grief over the loss of the tame elephant who was known to be a "good elephant," as zookeepers would describe him.
"I am truly ashamed to be human. We are sorry, Yongki - beautiful elephant," said Salena Merrick Swedish, a Twitter user in Stockholm.
"I am about to cry reading this story. I curse those who did it," said Rhyiezkyanhy Dhiafakhri Ramadhan, a Facebook user, as BBC reported.
