• Eight-Year-Old Girl Killed in Wild Elephant Attack in Riau
• Experts Warn of Escalating Human-Wildlife Conflicts Amid Habitat Loss

An eight-year-old Indonesian girl has died in Riau province after being trampled by a wild elephant, reigniting concerns about the country’s growing human-wildlife conflicts

Conservation experts warn that shrinking natural habitats are pushing animals closer to human settlements, increasing the risk of dangerous encounters

The girl, known as Citra, spent three days in a coma following severe head injuries before passing away. She was attacked by an elephant from a herd of ten while fleeing with her family from a wooden house near a cornfield in West Rumbai district

Zulhusni Syukri, director of the Rimba Satwa Foundation, which fits GPS collars on wild elephants in the province, said the incident highlights the long-term trauma experienced by Riau’s elephants due to human activities, including being driven out of villages, caught in traps, and scared by fireworks

These traumas have altered elephant behavior, making them more aggressive, he added

Syukri also noted that the saying “an elephant never forgets” is partly true, as elephants may return to previous conflict sites and attack individuals they associate with past trauma, using their strong sense of smell to recognize them

West Rumbai police chief Said Khairul Iman explained that the incident began when the girl’s father, Sardo Purba, heard loud noises outside their home at dawn and saw three elephants nearby. Fearing the fragile house would collapse, he gathered his wife and four children to flee through the back door. In the chaos, Citra slipped and was trampled by a pursuing elephant

Authorities are now working to guide the elephants back to their natural habitats to prevent further threats to local residents

Experts say the root cause of the conflict is habitat loss. Vast areas that once served as Sumatran elephant ranges have been replaced by palm oil, rubber, and acacia plantations, as well as factories, forcing elephants closer to human settlements in search of food

If they come across a house in the forest, they often try to forage for rice, oil, or noodles left behind by farmers or plantation workers,” Syukri explained. “Normally, wild elephants are afraid of humans and flee, but if they recall a negative past encounter, they may defend themselves or seek revenge

Riau’s remaining Sumatran elephant population is estimated at around 300, down 70% over the past two decades, according to the province’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA)

Since 2021, over 200 human-elephant conflicts have been recorded across Sumatra, though fatalities are rare

Experts are urging local authorities to urgently protect elephant habitats, closely monitor migration routes, and prevent illegal plantation expansions on wildlife lands to avoid similar tragic incidents in the future