APRIL Statement Regarding Sumatran Elephant Discovery in PT RAPP Concession
APRIL Group is deeply concerned and shocked by the tragic discovery of a dead Sumatran elephant on 2 February 2026 within the concession area of its operating arm, PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (PT RAPP), in Pelalawan Regency, Riau. We condemn this deplorable act which is an affront to our commitment to biodiversity conservation and protection and underscores the urgent need for further concerted action on forest and wildlife protection.
PT RAPP has been cooperating fully with the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), the Indonesian National Police and the Ministry of Forestry in the ongoing investigation and is providing unrestricted access and full operational support to the government teams on the ground. While the investigation is underway, PT RAPP is also conducting a comprehensive review of its forest monitoring and protection measures to further strengthen current systems and practices.
APRIL Group reaffirms its commitment to conserve and protect nature and wildlife in the over 460,000 hectares of natural forests that it manages in close coordination with government agencies, conservation organizations and the local communities. The company will continue to support elephant protection through its Elephant Conservation Unit which APRIL has maintained since its establishment in 2005 together with the Riau Natural Resource Conservation Agency and WWF Indonesia.
UPDATE: On March 3, 2026, local police in Riau named 15 individuals as suspects in the death of the elephant which was discovered on February 2. This follows an investigation carried out by the police in cooperation with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry and other agencies. APRIL has cooperated fully with the investigation.
