InfoSAWIT, ACEH TAMIANG – Heavy rain has hampered access to the location where a dead elephant was found inside the palm oil plantation of PT MPLI in Kaloy Village, Tamiang Hulu District, Aceh Tamiang Regency, on Sunday (Aug. 9, 2026).
The location, situated in Afdeling B, Block 34, can only be reached via an unpaved and hilly road. Heavy rainfall left the soil surface slippery, making the route difficult and potentially dangerous for vehicles and people attempting to reach the site.
The difficult conditions affected a group of journalists seeking to reach the location, as well as personnel from the Inafis unit of the Aceh Tamiang Police and the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).
“The Polsek team had already reached the location because they went up to the site before the rain,” a police source said, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from Serambinews, Monday (Aug. 10, 2026).
The elephant was found lying on a gravel-covered dirt road surrounded by rows of oil palm trees and dense undergrowth. The animal was reportedly discovered by plantation workers during an inspection of the area.
Elephant Found Dead Inside Oil Palm Block
The discovery occurred in the plantation’s Afdeling B, Block 34. The area is characterized by hilly terrain, with dirt roads still serving as the main access route.
Heavy rain subsequently made the road increasingly difficult to navigate. The slippery surface also raised concerns over the safety of anyone attempting to reach the location.
According to Andi, the Datok Penghulu, or village head, of Kaloy Village, local authorities received information about the dead elephant around midday.
“At around noon, we received a report from the plantation workers saying that an elephant had died inside the plantation block,” Andi said.
The workers reportedly found the elephant already lying lifeless on a small dirt track between the oil palm trees.
The discovery has drawn attention because the elephant was found inside an active oil palm plantation area. However, based on the information available, the cause of death had not yet been established.
Investigation Awaits Further Examination
The difficult terrain and heavy rainfall have become a major obstacle to accessing the site directly. Police personnel who had reached the area before the rain were already near the location, while other teams faced difficulties reaching the site.
Further examination by the relevant authorities, including the Inafis team and BKSDA, is expected to be important in determining the condition of the animal and the circumstances surrounding its death.
As the investigation proceeds, authorities will need to establish the cause of death based on field examination and other available evidence rather than drawing conclusions solely from the location where the elephant was found.
The incident also highlights the challenges of managing wildlife encounters in landscapes where conservation areas and plantation activities intersect, particularly in parts of Aceh Tamiang where elephants remain part of the broader ecosystem.
For now, heavy rain and difficult access remain the immediate obstacles to a more comprehensive examination of the site. (T2)
