Sumatran elephant Diego dies at PLG Minas training center

Diego, a 17-year-old male Sumatran elephant, died on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the Minas Elephant Training Center (PLG) in Siak Regency.

The elephant's health began to decline on September 10, characterized by diarrhea and a loss of appetite. Medical teams from the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) initially identified indications of worms through stool samples and provided intensive treatment. While Diego briefly showed signs of improvement, his condition deteriorated again on September 15.

During a scheduled procedure to collect blood samples on Wednesday afternoon, Diego suddenly collapsed. Despite immediate intervention by staff, his vital signs disappeared. A necropsy was performed to determine the exact cause of death, which indicated serious issues within the digestive organs.