[Straits Times] A RARE Sumatran elephant has died in Indonesia after blocking a village street for a week, an official said Sunday."Hello, boss?... Yeah, I won't be in to work again today. That dead elephant's still blocking the street..."
The female elephant was in a 'weak condition' after becoming separated from its herd about a week ago in Bengkalis district, Riau province, conservation agency official Adit Gunawan told AFP.
"What kind of elephant? A dead one!... Oh, I see what you mean. I think it's Sumatran... Yeah, they are pretty rare..."
'It was hungry. We gave it food, water and medical attention. We tried our best to nurse it back to health but it wasn't getting better and died on Saturday evening,' he said.
"Yep. Just rolled its poor little elephant eyes and went tusks up."
An autopsy to determine the cause of death is being carried out, he said.
"What's the matter, Dr. Quincy?"
"The cause of death better be on this side, Sam, 'cause I ain't turnin' this sucker over!"
Antara state news agency reported that the elephant, along with her two calves, had been blocking a tarred road near a housing complex since last Monday. The elephant could have been poisoned, the report added.
"Ahah! Iocaine powder! I'd bet my life on it!"
However Gunawan said there was only one calf, which would be taken to the agency's elephant training centre and 'may be released to the wild again if conditions allow'.
"Nope. There was only the one calf... That? No, no! It's naugahyde. I guess it does look a lot like elephant skin, doesn't it?"