Pidie jaya: Aceh's Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) is deploying four trained elephants to help remove wood debris and restore access to homes after flash floods struck Pidie Jaya District. 'We are bringing the elephants from the Saree Elephant Training Center,' said Hadi Sofyan, head of BKSDA's Sigli Regional Unit, speaking in Pidie Jaya on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the elephants - Abu, Mido, Ajis, and Noni - will assist rehabilitation in areas inaccessible to heavy machinery, including Meureudu and Meurah Dua sub-districts. Sofyan stated that the elephants will reopen blocked paths, deliver logistics, and aid in searches for residents still missing after the floods. 'The operation will last seven days, until December 14, 2025,' he said, emphasizing the urgency of emergency response.
He recalled their effectiveness during previous disasters, including the 2004 tsunami, when elephants were used to clear debris in devastated Aceh communities. 'Based on past operations, elephants are highly effective in removing large obstacles that machines cannot reach,' Sofyan said.
For now, the elephant team will focus solely on Pidie Jaya, as other districts remain inaccessible due to damaged roads and ongoing surveys. 'At the current pace, other regions cannot yet be reached. We are prepared to assist if conditions improve,' he added.
Late November floods and landslides struck multiple districts in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, killing more than 900 people and isolating many areas. The central government has acted to restore land access, with President Prabowo Subianto directing the Public Works Ministry and military to complete Bailey bridge installations in Aceh by next week.
Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo said teams have been deployed to stabilize embankments, clear debris, and reconstruct damaged infrastructure, focusing on connecting isolated communities. The elephant deployment in Pidie Jaya complements broader government efforts to accelerate recovery, especially in locations where conventional machinery cannot operate.
