Sumatran Elephants
The Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatrensis) is a genetically significant subspecies of the Asian Elephant found only in Sumatra. The Sumatran Elephant is smaller than the Indian subspecies and is extremely endangered. A population survey conducted in 2000 estimated that only approximately 2500 wild elephants remain and these are in isolated pockets throughout Sumatra.
The elephant is the symbolic identity for Lampung province. However there is constant pressure on villages to protect crops from elephant herds which emerge from the National Parks to forage in cultivated fields. One solution to this conflict has been to capture elephants and train them for work in Elephant Conservation Centres. At Way Kambas there are 65 trained elephants.
Eco Lodges Indonesia is working with the local community to improve conditions at the Way Kambas Elephant Conservation Centre. Tourism brings income, exercise and improved diet by using elephants for tourist safaris into the park. Several elephants and mahouts have been identified as the most suitable for tourist rides. The Way Kambas ECC also has an elephant Veterinary clinic where treatment is offered to wild and trained elephants. The ECC is also raising orphaned baby elephants.
A special project is underway to fill in disused wells left when transmigrants were moved out of the park in the 90s. Many baby elephants and even tigers have fallen in and died. (For more info please read this scanned Sydney Morning Herald article)
For information on Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered animals visit Edge Existence an initiative of The Zoological Society of London http://www.edgeofexistence.org/.
More InfoFor information on Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered animals visit Edge Existence an initiative of The Zoological Society of London http://www.edgeofexistence.org/ |
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