Prabowo's Plans to Protect Increasingly Threatened Elephants

Jakarta — President Prabowo Subianto is preparing several measures to prevent the extinction of Sumatran and Bornean elephants, whose numbers are steadily declining.

These measures are being prepared given that the number of elephant pockets—the areas where elephants live—continues to shrink. According to verification by Forest Minister Raja Juli Antoni, the number of elephant pockets remaining in Indonesia has fallen to just 21 from the previous 42.

This reality demonstrates that without intervention, elephant pockets will become extinct, which would have implications for elephant populations. “If there is no serious intervention by the government, then the destruction of these elephant pockets is inevitable. And as a result, the elephant population, which is a protected animal and an iconic species in Indonesia, is not unlikely to become extinct,” said Raja Juli following a limited meeting with President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (12 March 2016).

The preservation areas will not only be created as corridors between pockets but also within the remaining elephant pockets (intra-corridor). This is because the preservation areas within the remaining elephant pockets are already fragmented, or not unified, and scattered into several small sections.

“In concessions that have already been issued, for example in palm oil concessions in Sumatra, what is called a preservation area will be formed. A preservation area is a region that allows elephant corridors to exist between the pockets, so that elephants can move from one pocket to another. This is extremely important,” he said.

Inbreeding between two individuals with close genetic relationships can result in physical disabilities, increased risk of fatal diseases, lack of genetic diversity, and local extinction. The formation of preservation areas will subsequently be regulated through a Presidential Instruction (Inpres) on the Rescue of Sumatran Elephant and Bornean Elephant Populations and Habitats.

The Inpres that will be issued will instruct relevant ministers to assist the Ministry of Forestry (Menhut) in rescuing elephant populations, including by establishing preservation areas. The area of such zones is expected to expand to reach 90,000 hectares.