On the tourist island of Bali, Indonesia, a Sumatran elephant named Molly was tragically found dead after being swept away by a strong river current. The incident occurred on Monday during a routine exercise led by her mahout, who was guiding her to a holding area outside zoo grounds. After another elephant successfully crossed the river, Molly lost her footing as the current intensified due to upstream rains. Despite intensive searches conducted by the Bali Zoo and the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency, her body was discovered Tuesday in the Cengceng river.
The Bali Zoo expressed deep sorrow over Molly's loss, describing her as a cherished "kind and friendly elephant." Emma Chandra, the head of public relations at the zoo, emphasized the unforeseeable nature of the tragedy. She stated, "This was an unavoidable event," and highlighted the zoo's commitment to evaluating operational procedures and enhancing safety protocols during the rainy season to prevent future incidents.
Sumatran elephants, with fewer than 700 remaining, are critically endangered and legally protected in Indonesia, underscoring the significance of Molly's loss. This incident highlights the broader challenges faced by wildlife conservation efforts in the region, where seasonal rains from October to March frequently lead to flooding and landslides. Steps are being taken to mitigate such risks and ensure the safety of similar protected species in this 17,000-island archipelago. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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