Inp.polri.go.id - Pekanbaru. A one-year-and-six-month-old female Sumatran elephant named Laila died early Saturday (22/11/2025) at the Sebanga Elephant Conservation Center in Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province, according to the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).

“Laila was found lifeless at around 5.30 am after showing unusual behavior despite normal appetite and body temperature in the previous 48 hours,” said Supartono, the Head of the Riau BKSDA, in a statement as reported by antaranews.com.

Laila was born on 6 April 2024 to Puja (female) and Sarma (male), two elephants held at the same facility. On Thursday, veterinarians reported the calf appeared less active, though she continued eating and nursing normally. 

Medical staff administered IV fluids and medication, monitoring her every two hours. She repeatedly screamed and showed distress between midnight and 1 am on Saturday, briefly collapsing before regaining movement.

By dawn, her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she was found dead. A veterinary team has performed a necropsy and collected tissue samples to determine the exact cause of death.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)