JAKARTA — A tragic incident occurred on Sumatra island, Indonesia, where a pregnant woman was killed by a herd of wild elephants, according to police reports cited by the German news agency (dpa) on Tuesday. The woman, identified as Karsini, was attempting to safeguard her family’s rubber plantation in Muara Lakitan district, South Sumatra, when the elephants attacked on Sunday, local police chief Muhammad Karim confirmed.
Karsini tried to scare the elephants away by banging two jerry cans to create a loud noise. However, instead of retreating, the elephants charged at her, leading to her death, Karim said.
The area where this incident took place is known for its large wild elephant population, with herds of up to 100 animals frequently roaming the region.
Local authorities have noted an increase in human-elephant encounters, with reports of elephants causing damage to crops and homes occurring every few months. While such incidents are becoming more common, fatalities are rare. “This is by far the worst case we’ve seen,” Karim said, advising residents to avoid confronting elephants.
In response to the tragedy, a team from the government-run Natural Resources Conservation Agency has been sent to investigate the incident.
