The deceased, Karsini, and her husband Rasum
Source: Africa Publicity
Some 15 elephants have reportedly crushed a five-months-old pregnant woman and her unborn baby to death in Indonesia.
According to local media reports, the mother-of-three Karsini, aged 33, was tapping rubber trees with her husband Rasum on Sunday when the herd of some 15 elephants entered their plantation in South Sumatra.
Reports say the pregnant woman banged empty jerrycans together like cymbals in a desperate attempt to scare off the animals, each weighing up to 4,000kg.
But the wild animals, scared on enraged by the banging, charged the couple and brutally trampled Karsini and her unborn baby to death, reports say.
After the herd moved away, villagers in the Musi Rawas Regency collected Karsini’s corpse from the forest.
Muara Lakitan Police Chief, AKP M Abdul Karim, is quoted as saying: ‘It is known that the victim was five months pregnant.
‘She suffered severe wounds on her stomach and waist, and her womb had shifted to the left. ‘Her husband managed to save himself.’
The police chief added that wild elephants were known to frequent the region in herds of up to 100.
Officers from the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) were at the scene to investigate, according to him.
He appealed to residents to stay clear of wandering elephants instead of trying to scare them away.
He urged: “Don’t disturb them, don’t try to chase them away. ”
“They are only looking for food. If you see an elephant, immediately move away.”
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