Sumatra elephants in danger: Expert

Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

The dwindling population of Sumatra elephants (Elephas maximus sumatrana) over the past few years has given rise to the fear that if the government does not step in to save the species its extinction is only a matter of time, an expert says.

"Protection measures are urgent as the elephant population is decreasing rapidly in number," said Wisnu Wardhana, a zoo and wild animal consultant from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) during a national meeting of veterinarians in Surabaya on Friday.

Data from the Riau Natural Resources and Conservation Body (BKSDA) found that in 1985, the number of Sumatra elephants reached between 1,067 and 1,617, while in 2003, there were only between 356 and 435 of the mammals.

The declining population has been attributed to the rapid deforestation of Sumatra's jungles, forest fires and the conversion of forests to plantations, said Wisnu.

The shrinking of the elephants' habitat has also brought adverse effects. Elephants have ventured into nearby villages in search of food, leading to the fatalities of both humans and elephants, said Wisnu.

In order to protect the elephants, the government has established training centers for elephants in Riau, Bengkulu, North Sumatra, Aceh, South Sumatra and Lampung. In the centers, the elephants are trained to help humans such as by lifting cargo or logs. "However, mishandling (in the centers) has also led to elephant deaths," said Wisnu.

In several cases, staff at the centers captured young elephants but failed to capture their mothers, which resulted in the deaths of the young elephants. "The young elephants die due to lack of nutrition," said Wisnu.

The training centers are underfunded and cannot provide adequate nourishment for the young elephants. "A young elephant needs at least one liter of skim milk a day," said Wisnu.

According to a government data, between 2000 and 2005, 96 elephants died in the training centers or at the hands of humans.

The government must ensure that only well-trained people are looking after the elephants, said Wisnu.