Produksi pulp and paper merupakan salah satu penyebab utama deforestasi dan degradasi hutan gambut di Sumatera. Menurut perkiraan, APP dan APRIL sudah memusnahkan 2 juta hektar hutan di Propinsi Riau sejak pertengahan 1980-an, yang merupakan setengah dari hutan hujan tropis yang ada di Riau saat itu. produsen pulp dan kertas yang terkemuka di Indonesia tersebut dan anak perusahaannya sangat mengandalkan kayu rimba campuran (mixed tropical hardwood atau MTH) yang berasal dari kegiatan pembukaan hutan alam.
A recent estimation by WWF- Indonesia shows that there have been over 100 dead elephants found in Riau, Sumatra, since 2004, where truly law enforcement is needed urgently, the environmental NGO said last week.
Fifteen wild Sumatran elephants had been killed in Riau province since January this year following the deaths of three female elephants in Tesso Nilo forest block as officials believed they were poisoned.
Another wild Sumatran elephant was found dead in Tesso Nilo National Park, in Riau Province, increasing the dead toll to six elephants in recent three months. The latest elephant was found dead in Sungai Tapa near the Park’s Flying Squad trained elephants camp on 31 May, reports said.
Pekanbaru, Riau province (ANTARA News) - Five Sumatran Elephants (Elephas Maximus Sumatranus) were found dead last Friday (Nov 26) in Indragiri Hulu, Riau province, an official said.The poor elephants were allegedly killed by irresponsible people by poisoning them in the working site of a mining company
PEKANBARU (EoF News)-- At least seven Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) were killed within recent two months in Riau province which believed as the severest conflict erupted this year as all of them were poisoned.
Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- A Sumatran elephant was found dead in Bukit Tigapuluh forest landscape, Riau, where his tusks were probably taken out by poachers.
Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- The government is urged to abide by regulations on its Sumatran elephant conservation agreement and protect the endangered species habitat from rampant conversion as human-elephant conflict escalates currently. Two elephants killed nearby Bukit Tigapuluh forest block early this month amid uncertainty of implementation on Ministry of Forestry Decree appointing Riau as Sumatran Elephant Conservation Centre.
Pekanbaru (EoF News) -- An elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) was found dead where its skeletons and ivory vanished as a villager said it was poisoned by ivory poachers. The elephant’s ripen carcass was found by residents of Dusun Tasik Indah, Segati village of Pelalawan, 180 km away from Pekanbaru, last weekend. The villagers informed the provincial conservation agency (BKSDA) this week, Antara news agency reported Tuesday.
Ivory Hunting on Sumatran Elephant is Rampant in Riau Media Indonesia Online: May 8, 2006 By Bagus Pratomo PEKANBARU--MIOL: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Riau indicates that elephant poaching for the ivory is rampant in Riau. Since end of February this year, at least four elephants were dead without ivory.
Human Elephant Conflict and Forest Clearing in Libo Block, Riau Province Pekanbaru, Indonesia (EoF News, March 10, 2006) - Six elephants were found dead last week in an oil palm plantation at the border of Riau and North Sumatra, apparently poisoned. At least 17 elephants have repeatedly raided Balai Raja village in Riau's Bengkalis District.