Meet The Sumatran Elephant

STATUS: Critically Endangered
POPULATION: ~2400-2800

Sumatra is a large island in western Indonesia that is part of the Sunda Islands. On this island lives a subspecies of the Asian elephant, the Sumatran elephant, who is critically endangered with an estimated population of 2400-2800 left in the wild. And while this number may not seem as significant as some endangered species, the fact that half of the Sumatran elephant population was lost in a single generation is a very worrisome factor.

The Sumatran elephants are social animals that thrive in herds. They are herbivorous creatures who need green food available in fairly large amounts, consuming approximately 200 kg biomass and drinking around 20-50 liter per day. Reproduction is a rather slow process in the case of the Sumatran elephant since a cow (the female) experiences reproduction once in a four year period with a 19-21 months pregnancy, and similar to humans, they only deliver one calf.

It’s hard to imagine how few 2400 Sumatran Elephants really is. If we gathered the remaining population, there wouldn’t even be enough to fill every seat at the symphony hall in Houston, Texas.

Photo by CEphoto via Wikimedia Commons

What’s the danger?

Humans remain the primary danger in causing the decline of the Sumatran elephant species. The island of Sumatra has been experiencing one of the highest rates of deforestation where over two-thirds of its natural lowland forest has been wiped out in the past decades. Where once upon a time Sumatran elephants roamed freely without danger, now is home to pulp and paper industries’ and palm oil plantations.

In addition, poaching continues to be a contributing factor to the loss of the species. Despite having shorter tusks than other Asian-subspecies, the Sumatran elephants still attract poachers who kill males for their tusks and sell them in the illegal ivory market. Since only males have tusks, poaching doesn’t just affect their population size but it skews the sex ratio thus causing lower breeding rates.

ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONS

The Sumatran elephant plays a crucial part in a healthy environment as they feed on a variety of plants and deposit seeds wherever they go. Unfortunately, as a result of the rapid deforestation rate, the Sumatran soil, a carbon-rich peat soil, releases a high amount of carbon into the atmosphere which further contributes to global warming.

Rapid deforestation also leads elephants to come into contact with humans more often. Looking for food they raid crops and inevitably trample homes or accidentally hurt people. Worsening the situation, those affected sometimes seek retaliation by poisoning or shooting the elephants.

A Sumatran elephant can suck up 9 liters of water in just one breath.

Now that’s a big sip!

Photo by @nonprofitorgs via Flickr and Creative Commons

How can we help?

If the current population decline continues it’s likely that the Sumatran elephant will go extinct within 30 years. To help ensure this doesn’t happen, we need to do everything we can to fight against poaching and trading, reduce the human-elephant conflict, and secure the health of the forests.

In response to the poaching World Wildlife Fund and its local partners have set up patrol units who help with wildlife anti-poaching. They also make efforts in educating locals about the laws concerning poaching. These efforts have already resulted in bringing several known poachers to court.

To reduce the number of human-elephant conflicts, WWF launched the Elephant Flying Squad in 2004 which consists of rangers, noise and light-making devices, a truck, and four trained elephants capable to drive wild elephants back into the forests if they are in threatening proximity to villages. This effort is proven to be successful and provides a short term relief for the intense conflict between people and elephants until these organizations are able to carry out comprehensive plans for humans and elephants to peacefully coexist.

Securing healthy forest is an overarching goal WWF is fighting for. The organization is calling on the Indonesian government, members of the pulp and paper industry, palm-oil plants and other industry organizations to work together in order to save the Sumatran elephants. Reducing human conflict and securing the areas Sumatran Elephants live in is crucial, and Everybeing proceeds go to supporting these types of continued efforts.

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