Two suspects still at large in Lampung tapir killing case

Indonesian authorities continue to hunt for two individuals suspected of involvement in the brutal killing of a tapir in Mesuji, Lampung. The incident, which occurred in early July, gained widespread attention after a video of the animal's death went viral.

Deputy Minister of Forestry, Rohmat Marzuki, confirmed that the police, in coordination with the Mesuji Police, are actively pursuing the two fugitives. "The Ministry of Forestry continues to coordinate with the Mesuji Police to hunt for the two perpetrators who are still on the wanted list (DPO)," Marzuki stated during a meeting with Commission IV of the House of Representatives.

The tapir was killed in the Production Forest Register 45, an area managed by KPH Sungai Buaya and leased to PT Silva Inhutani Lampung. The forest's condition has become fragmented due to surrounding agricultural activities, leading to increased interactions between wildlife and humans. This fragmentation is believed to have caused the tapir to stray from the forest onto the main road.

Following the incident, police arrested four individuals on July 3rd: Ketut Suwarne, Wayan Supatre, Tri Suharyanto, and Made Putra. The ongoing investigation and manhunt are being conducted under Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems, as amended by Law Number 32 of 2024. The Ministry of Forestry is committed to collaborating with law enforcement to bring all perpetrators to justice.