Six elephants dead from suspected poisoning in Indonesia

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2004

JAKARTA (AFP) — Six elephants have been found dead on the outskirts of a jungle on the Indonesian island of Sumatra in what is believed to be a case of deliberate poisoning.

The Detikcom online news service said villagers discovered the bodies in Riau province early Monday. Forestry officials were due to collect the carcasses, it said.

But the head of the Natural Resources Conservation Office in Riau, John Kenedie, and local police were unable to confirm the report.

"My own network and that of the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) have heard of no such report and we are still trying to confirm this," Kenedie said.

He said a combined team from his office and the local WWF chapter office had been sent to investigate.

Detikcom said local residents had...