Landslides alter elephant habitat in Aceh river basin

The Peusangan watershed in Negeri Antara Village, Bener Meriah District, has suffered erosion at several points following recent disasters in Sumatra, according to field observations. “After the disaster there have been some changes,” said Wahdi, a handler of domesticated elephants at the Conservation Response Unit in the Peusangan basin, on Sunday. “Some feeding areas are gone due to landslides, and places where we usually take them to drink are now like cliffs, so we can’t access them anymore,” he added. Elephants possess strong spatial memory and tend to follow habitual routes across generations. Habitat disruption can therefore interfere with established movement and feeding patterns, affecting both tame and wild herds. The Peusangan Conservation Response Unit currently manages three domesticated Sumatran elephants, each averaging around 35 years old. Wahdi said caring for the elephants requires diligence, including bathing them twice daily and ensuring they walk regularly to simulate movement in their natural ecosystem. Routine training also includes exercises such as lifting their feet and opening their mouths to allow caretakers to inspect their teeth and monitor overall health, he said. Wild elephant herds in the surrounding Peusangan basin have also been affected by the environmental changes, according to Wahdi. He said he has frequently observed wild elephants struggling to cross the Peusangan River, which has widened significantly in some areas after the landslides. To support conservation efforts, President Prabowo Subianto has pledged to back measures aimed at protecting the endangered Sumatran elephant population. The government recently granted 20,000 hectares of land to World Wildlife Fund to strengthen elephant conservation, as habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict continue to threaten the species in Aceh. The Sumatran elephant is listed as critically endangered, with habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and poaching contributing to a declining population across Sumatra. As per figures published on the official website of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the population of Sumatran elephants is estimated to be about 2,400–2,800 individuals. The world’s leading organization on wildlife conservation and endangered species has said that ivory can still be found in markets around Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States and Europe. The WWF has noted that poaching for the illegal ivory trade remains a serious threat to the lives of wild elephants in several countries. Related news: Wild Sumatran elephants destroy home in West Lampung village Related news: Conservation alarm: Elephant shot and dismembered in Riau Translator: Fajar S, Rahmad Nasution Copyright © ANTARA 2026