Banda Aceh – Around one hundred people from Global Marching for Elephant, Rhino and tiger (GMFERT) Indonesia gathered in Banda Aceh in a protest against poaching and wildlife illegal trading on Saturday, October 3. The gathering was also held in remembrance of a park ranger elephant named Yongki that was killed by poachers.
“Similar protests are also held in several cities around the world,” Cut Evrida Diana, the coordinator of the gathering, told Tempo.
“Yongki’s death extends the list of animals killed in poaching.”
Yongki is known as beloved elephant that helped park rangers patrolling around Lampung forest. It was found dead on September 18, slaughtered for its ivory. Poaching, especially in Sumatra and Aceh, has reached an alarming rate. It is estimated that there are only 100 rhinos, 400 tigers and 1,700 elephants left in Sumatra.