'There should have been tighter monitoring activities in the APP-subsidiary concession areas, including a prohibition on unauthorized persons to enter the areas. There should be an investigation into the death of an elephant that was found without ivory in PT Arara Abadi's concession areas,' said WWF Riau spokesperson Syamsidar in Pekanbaru on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Arara Abadi is an APP subsidiary company supplying raw materials for the paper industry by operating PT Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper in Perawang, Siak regency, Riau.

Syamsidar said APP had announced its forest conservation policy in February 2013, which meant it was responsible for protecting endangered species such as tigers and elephants. Concerning the death of an elephant in the Arara Abadi conservation area in Duri, Bengkalis regency, the APP's commitment to its forest conservation policy should be questioned, he said.

'To show its commitment to protecting its concession areas, the company should have prevented protected species, such as the elephant, from deaths caused by both human-animal conflicts and hunting,' said Syamsidar.

The WWF said the elephant's ivory may have been cut or pulled out. Ivory sells at a very high price, with high quality ivory selling at Rp 25 million (US$2,058) per kilogram.

The Sumatran elephant was found dead without its tusks in the Arara Abadi concession area in Tasik Serai village, Bengkalis regency, Riau. 'We've reported it to the authorities and the Riau Natural Conservation Agency,' said Arara Abadi spokesperson, Nurul Huda.

The WWF Riau recorded that since 2004, 121 Sumatran elephants had been found dead, with none of the cases being brought to court. (ebf)

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