Rare Sumatran elephant calf born in Riau conservation area
Heru Sutmantoro, head of the Tesso Nilo National Park Agency, said the calf was discovered at about 7:30 a.m. local time by mahouts in a forested area near the Sumatran Elephant Conservation Resort in Pelalawan District.
Field observations indicated the calf was likely born around 4:00 a.m. local time, shortly before dawn, Heru said on Wednesday.
Examinations by veterinarians found the female calf to be healthy, active, free of physical defects and able to nurse normally from its mother.
The newborn is the fifth calf delivered by Ria, a domesticated elephant living in the national park. Both mother and calf remain under close observation by mahouts and veterinary teams.
The birth underscores ongoing conservation efforts in Tesso Nilo, where the Elephant Flying Squad has recorded four calf births from two domesticated elephants, Lisa and Ria, over the past eight years.
The series of births highlights the importance of Tesso Nilo National Park as a key habitat supporting the recovery and long-term survival of the Sumatran elephant population, Heru said.
In a separate statement posted on social media, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni welcomed the birth and described it as encouraging news for wildlife conservation.
The healthy arrival of the female calf, nicknamed the younger sibling of Domang, offers renewed hope for the future of Sumatran elephants in the wild, the minister said.
The Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is currently listed as critically endangered, with habitat loss and poaching driving a declining population.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the population is estimated at only 2,400–2,800 individuals.
The organization warns that poaching for the illegal ivory trade remains a global threat, with ivory still appearing in markets across Africa, Asia, the United States, and Europe.
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Translator: Prisca TV, Rahmad Nasution