Humans are their biggest threat, having destroyed 80% of the sumatran elephants natural habitat to make room for palm oil plantations. A sumatran elephant was found decapitated with its tusks ripped off in an apparent poaching of the critically endangered subspecies, an. Sumatran elephants could be extinct within 30 years treehugger. The sumatran elephant is a subspecies of asian elephant and is classified as endangered. Lisa, a sumatran elephant calf, stays close to her. These elephants are anatomically and genetically unique from any other subspecies of asian elephants. Sumatran elephant stock pictures, royaltyfree photos. Sep 30, 2015 the population of sumatran elephants in aceh has been decreasing amid the increasing conversion of forest areas into plantations and illegal logging, the world wildlife fund wwf indonesia has announced. But the sumatran elephant population is in trouble its numbers have declined by 50 percent since 1985, and today only 2,400 to 2,800 remain in the wild. Today, elephant trainers are beginning to work with the local animals to safely protect the forest for humans and animals alike. The key issues, which are critical for conservation of the sumatran elephant. Sumatran elephants have lightly wrinkled skin with hairs all over the body and have brighter skin than other subspecies. Elephants of sumatra is a project developed to document, raise awareness and provide solutions on the ground in sumatra for the last remaining elephants of sumatra.
They dwell in lowland forest of sumatra in province of riau, west sumatra, and lampung, most of it is outside a protected area. The wcu has provided information to law enforcement agencies to follow up on reports of 25 sumatran elephant ivory trading cases, of which. Sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus animals a. Sumatran elephant found dead with missing tusks in indonesia. They use infrasonic sounds to communicate with each other. The sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus is one of the three recognised subspecies of asian elephant the other two are the sri lankan and indian elephants. To do this, they must fight the odds against an everdecreasing population as they watch the rainforests of borneo disappear. A planned hydroelectric dam funded by china would sever the last remaining elephant corridor in the lowland of the leuser rainforest in sumatra, indonesia. A dead female sumatran elephant was discovered at a palm oil. A dead female sumatran elephant was discovered at a palm oil plantation in indonesia today, miles from where another was found decapitated and with its tusks ripped off this week. Between the asian and african elephants, the borneo elephant and sumatran elephant really caught my eye.
Poisoned sumatran elephant found dead in indonesia cna. They also share their lush forest habitat with several other endangered species, such as the sumatran rhino, tiger, and orangutan, and countless other species that all benefit from an elephant population that thrives in. Poisoned sumatran elephant found dead in indonesia daily. The sumatran elephant has smaller ears than the african elephant and the sumatran elephant also has a more curved spine than the african elephant. Sumatran elephant the sumatran elephant is a subspecies of asian elephant which includes the indian elephant, the sumatran elephant, the srilanka elephant and the borneo elephant. The only predators to sumatran elephants are humans and tigers. The sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus is a subspecies of asian elephant native to rainforests of sumatra. It is said that only two of the three remaining herds are biologically viable. Carlos drews, director of wwfs global species programme. The sumatran elephant feeds on many plants, and deposit seeds when they travel, which contributed to a productive and healthy forest ecosystem. Elephants of sumatra critically endangered the last stand.
The decline is largely due to elephant habitat being deforested or. They can weigh up to 5tonnes and reach 9ft in height. However, the diminishing in the number of these elephants would have more of a broader effect. Sumatran elephants are already critically endangered because of habitat loss, but theyre also threatened by poaching for ivory. Sumatran elephant found dead with five bullet wounds in chest, head. Find highquality sumatran elephant stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. Sumatran elephants can consume up to 150 kg of food and drink 200 liters of water every day. Jan 24, 2012 the future of the rare sumatran elephant is at risk from habitat loss and it could be wiped out within 30 years, says top conservation group wwf. They maintain trails and open access to water for other species.
Distribution and habitat preferences of sumatran elephant elephas. Sumatran elephants are the largest terrestrial animals of indonesia. Living with sumatran elephants elephants play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy environment, but with humans now trying to build farms that border the forest, both species became at risk. An estimate of the carrying capacity for sumatran elephants would be different for each region in which they are found. The sumatran elephant is the smallest subspecies of asian elephant, and is sadly considered critically endangered. The skin coloration of the sumatran elephant is lighter than the other two subspecies of asian elephant. However, there is also a critical need to link isolated elephant populations by facilitating elephant movements across the landscape.
Warner 26 june 2015 the sumatran elephant is a critically endangered animal whose continued existence is being threatened due to conflict with humans. Washington, dc, january 23, 2012 the sumatran elephant has been downgraded from endangered to critically endangered by the international union for conservation of nature iucn after losing nearly 70 percent of its habitat and half its population in one generation, world wildlife fund wwf announced today. This young sumatran elephant, photographed by the ecologist, subsequently died. They play a critical role in healthy forest ecosystems by acting as seed dispersers.
Amazing facts about sumatran elephants onekindplanet. The sumatran elephant is extremely rare today, with estimates in 2,000 putting sumatran elephant numbers at just over 2,000. Sumatra wildlife wild sumatra ecotourism in indonesia. Sumatran elephants pushed toward extinction live science. The males of this species also bear the smallest tusks. The sumatran elephant shares an environment with several other endangered species, including the sumatran rhino, tiger, and orangutan. Sumatran elephants pushed out of homes, toward humans. The conflict between humans and critically endangered sumatran elephants in indonesia has been going on for decades and the elephants. The critically endangered sumatran elephant is largely threatened due to poaching for their tusks, deforestation and habitat loss as a result humanelephant conflict.
These elephants have been rescued by the world wildlife fund wwf and are too habituated to humans to safely return to the wild. The sumatran elephant is the smallest subspecies, but the largest mammal existing on the island of sumatra. Because of fear of the animal83% of the sumatran elephants former habitat has now been turned into plantations. Unlike the african elephants, the female sumatran elephants very rarely have tusks, and if the female sumatran elephant does have tusks, they are generally barely visible and can only be seen when the female sumatran elephant opens her mouth. Mar 24, 2014 critically endangered sumatran elephants.
In 1985, an islandwide rapid survey suggested that between 2,800 and 4,800 elephants lived in all eight mainland provinces of sumatra in 44 populations. Stop habitat loss to save sumatran elephant conservation. Sumatran elephants feed on a variety of plants and deposit seeds wherever they go, contributing to a healthy forest ecosystem. The height of adult male sumatran elephant is between 1. As we work towards solutions for the last remaining elephants of sumatra we hope others can join us in helping save this incredible species from extinction. Generally smaller than african elephants, the sumatran subspecies typically reaches a shoulder height of 6. They also share their lush forest habitat with several other. The 44 populations of elephants left are highly fragmented and can be found in the montane forests and sumatran island lowlands, and mainly tropical and subtropical broadleaf forest habitat types sumatran elephant, n. One of three subspecies of the asian elephant, the sumatran elephant is found only in the western indonesian island of sumatra. Dec 11, 20 in the rainforest of borneo lives the sumatran rhino. In comparison with african elephants, the sumatran elephant is smaller in stature.
This article is within the scope of wikiproject indonesia, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of indonesia and indonesiarelated topics on wikipedia. Sumatran elephant the tusks of male sumatran elephant are relatively shorter in compared to the other subspecies of elephant. Learn more about what wwf is doing to protect its future, and how you can help. Protecting the critically endangered sumatran elephant by wcs indonesia photos by paul hilton while many rightly voice concern over the plight of african elephants that are undergoing a precipitous decline in number, asian elephants are facing a catastrophic, yet less well documented decline of their own. Pdf sumatran elephant ranging behavior in a fragmented. Jan 30, 2015 living with sumatran elephants elephants play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy environment, but with humans now trying to build farms that border the forest, both species became at risk. Pronunciation of sumatran elephant with 2 audio pronunciations, 15 translations and more for sumatran elephant.
With a stranger appearance to their african cousins, the sumatran. The critically endangered sumatran elephant is largely threatened due to poaching for their tusks, deforestation and habitat loss as a result humanelephant. Jan 24, 2012 sumatran elephants pushed toward extinction. By leann macdonald and brad sivacoe sumatran elephants are very social animals.
Elephant s age strongly depends on their living condition. Elephants of sumatra, indonesia page 4 the elephant. The 27yearold male sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus, named bunta, had since 2016 been regularly trained and employed by. Theres actually an elephant conservation center training camp at seblat, similar to the famous one in tangkahan, north sumatra. Sumatran elephants are the smallest asian elephants, meanwhile differing from the other 2 subspecies morphologically, anatomically and genetically by brighter skin with less depigmented spots. Aug 18, 2017 elephant flying squad, a unique approach to reduce humanwildlife conflict in riau pelalawan, riau. While documenting the great work of vesswic i got to meet the new born calf in north sumatra. Jan 24, 2012 the sumatran elephant has been placed on the list of critically endangered species after losing half of its population in a single generation, prompting calls from conservation groups for. Currently, there are roughly 2,400 2,800 sumatran elephants left in the wild. A sumatran elephant calf lies stricken in the jungle in indonesia as conservationists fight to remove a rope tightly wound around its leg that almost caused the critically endangered animal to. Other articles where sumatran elephant is discussed. Elephants age strongly depends on their living condition.
Males of sumatran elephant generally exhibit visible tusks, which dont tend to grow long. The sumatran rhino wild animals planet doc full documentaries. The sumatran elephant is the rarest of the three subspecies, being classified as critically endangered. A sumatran elephant has been found dead from an apparent poisoning, an indonesian conservation official said thursday, in the second killing of the critically endangered subspecies this week.
This documentary shows us a unique rhinoceros specie. Child and his father enjoy riding a sumatran elephant at zoo in jambi sumatran elephant sumatran elephant while wading in the river the sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus. There are fewer than 3,000 sumatran elephants remaining in the wild, according to the international union for conservation of nature, marking a 50%. Endangered sumatran elephants threats and conservation. Its my goal to bring faces to these issues relating directly to the critically endangered sumatran elephant. How palm oil has changed life for sumatran elephants and. There are many interesting facts about the sumatran elephant. Stormis favorite movie kylie jenner posed flirtatiously in a new photo that. The sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus is one of three recognized subspecies of the asian elephant, and native to the indonesian island of sumatra.
A sumatran elephant has been found dead with its tusks removed in an apparent poaching case targeting the critically endangered animal, an indonesian conservation official said friday. Poisoned sumatran elephant found dead in indonesia daily mail. The elephant populations longterm viability is jeopardized by rapid forest conversion to commercial plantations. Their skin appears brighter and shows less depigmented spots than the skin of other subspecies and almost all males have visible tusks. The dead elephants stomach contents would be analysed to confirm its cause of death, she added. Behavior of the sumatran elephant our friends in sumatra, chris, patrick and brad, are on the elephant with the guide. Current conservation strategies for sumatran elephants focus on securing elephant habitat and mitigating humanelephant conflict. The critically endangered sumatran elephant population of seblat, north bengkulu, sumatra is under renewed threat due to the coal mining company pt inmas abadi trying to obtain 600 hectares of this protected forest to expand their coal output. The trunk of a sumatran elephant contains over 60,000 muscles and is one of the. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.
The sumatran elephant is a subspecies of the more widely known asian elephant and is located in indonesia and the island of sumatra. Sumatran elephant extinction looms large on the horizon. Coloring spectral analysis, habitat preference, riau, sumatran elephant. Simple summary a wild sumatran elephant radiomonitored near a conservation center from august 2007may 2008 used medium and opencanopy land cover more than. The sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus is one of three currently recognized subspecies of asian elephants 1,2 and is both genetically 3 and anatomically different from other asian elephants 1. African elephants have much larger ears, which are used to dissipate body heat.
The sumatran elephant population has already been halved in a generation and almost 70% of its habitat has been lost due to deforestation and plantations, the environmental group says. The sumatran elephant was declared critically endangered four years ago in 2012. The sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus is one of three recognized subspecies of the asian elephant, and native to the indonesia island of sumatra. Their survival is threatened by hunters, deforestation and habitat loss, as well as conflict with humans. Sumatran elephants roam around the jungle pushing over trees. Sumatran elephants play a vital part in maintaining ecosystems, as they feed on a variety of plants and deposit the seeds as they travel. Sumatran elephants elephas maximus sumatranus are one of four species of asian elephant. Living with sumatran elephants national geographic society. The sumatran elephant is extremely rare today, with estimates in 2000 putting sumatran elephant numbers at just over 2,000 individuals. Because sumatran elephants are warmblooded animals, they will find shelter to sleep under depending on the weather to stabilize body temperature. A pachyderms plight marina dauer ap environmental science mrs. Sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus bathing in river with baby sumatran elephant sumatran elephant walk on the desert jambi, indonesia november 2017. The endangered sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus geographic location. Second critically endangered sumatran elephant is found killed in a week in.
Sumatran elephant upgraded to critically endangered status. The geographic location of the sumatran elephants is sumatra, western indonesia. The sumatran elephant, a majestic species that feeds on various plants as well as depositing seeds wherever they set foot, is considered to be critically endangered. Two critically endangered sumatran elephants were found dead in an indonesian national park and it is believed they were. When the water sources are dried, elephant can dig for 50100 cm using his front feet and trunk in search of water. Sumatran elephant the animal life of terrestrial habitat. The critically endangered sumatran elephant is largely threatened due to poaching for their tusks, deforestation and habitat loss as a result human elephant. Just like the african elephant, sumatran elephants function in the role of the ecosystem engineer and as a keystone species. Elephants and humans are both ecosystem engineers on the island of sumatra, but with both requiring large territory in the forest, coexisting has not always been easy in a rainforest with limited space and resources.
The wcu has provided information to law enforcement agencies to follow up on reports of 25. Sumatran elephant, which has a scientific name elephas maximus sumatranus, is one of three recognized subspecies of the asian elephant and also native to the indonesia island of sumatra unfortunately, the sumatran elephants population in its habitat is only 2,4002800 and is classified as critically endangered by iucn international union for conservation of nature in 2011. The lampung province has seen its number of elephant herds decline from twelve in the 1980s, to only three by 2002. Sumatran elephant found decapitated after indonesian poachers kill. The battle to save sumatras elephants from extinction cnn. Critically endangered sumatran elephant decapitated for the illegal. The sumatran elephant is a subspecies of the asian elephant elephas maximus and shares its genus with the sri lankan e. The sumatran elephant is a subspecies of asian elephant which includes the indian elephant, the sumatran elephant, the srilanka elephant and the borneo elephant. Jun 03, 20 a sumatran elephant with her baby in sumatras aceh jaya district in 2010. Elephants of sumatra, indonesia page 3 the elephant. Sumatran elephants elephas maximus sumatranus are morphologically, anatomically and genetically different from other subspecies of the asian elephant. Sumatran elephant endangered species animal planet.
The sumatran elephant was once widespread on the island, and riau province was believed to have the largest elephant population in sumatra with over 1,600 individuals in the 1980s. This creates gaps in the forest, allowing smaller animals to move around, and sunlight to reach the forest floor. While the female elephant has very short tusks and are hidden behind their upper lips. The sumatran elephant is under serious threat from illegal logging and associated habitat loss and fragmentation in indonesia. Out of the three recognized subspecies of asian elephant, the sumatran elephant is the smallest in size. Saving the sumatran rhino national geographic society. In 2011, iucn upgraded the conservation status of the sumatran elephant from endangered to critically endangered in its red list as the population had declined by at least 80% during the past three generations, estimated to be about 75 years. Photos and videos of wildlife, places, and nature from wwf. The 25yearold female elephants corpse was discovered at a palm oil plantation in east aceh regency thursday. Rhinos, orangs and tigers are already critically endangered here, and now these few thousand distinctive elephants are said to be unable to survive the next 30 years. Sumatran elephant japari library, the kemono friends wiki. You can enjoy the magic of australia zoo and help our conservation efforts by adopting an animal, subscribing to crikey club or crikey mag and visiting our online.
Sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus about animals. The sumatran elephant is extremely rare today, with estimates in 2000 putting sumatran elephant. Poachers blamed in second sumatran elephant death this year. A sumatran elephant has been found dead from an apparent poisoning, an indonesian conservation official said on thursday nov 21, in. The critically endangered status of the sumatran elephant is primarily due to massive. Jan 24, 2012 sumatran elephants could be extinct within 30 years. Ecology and conservation of sumatran elephants elephas. They also share their lush forest habitat with several other endangered species, such as the sumatran rhino, tiger, and orangutan, and countless other species that all benefit from an elephant population that thrives in a healthy habitat. The sumatran elephant population in aceh has shrank by almost 50 percent in the past 25 years, says acehbased wwf indonesia communication. According to the world wildlife foundation, the sumatran elephant is one of our planets most critically endangered species. Yet, developing effective land conservation strategies for elephants is.
Elephants play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy environment. In 2011, the sumatran elephant has been classified as critically endangered by iucn as the population has declined by at least 80% over the last three generations, estimated to be about 75 years. Sumatran elephants, while once widespread, are now only found in two locations in kerinci deep within the national park in the areas of sipurak and muara imat, and in the seblat area of bengkulu, to the south west. A sumatran elephant needs to drink about 2050literday. Sumatran elephants suffer in rush for liquid ivory jim wickens 30th june 20. The sumatran elephant elephas maximus sumatranus is one of three recognized subspecies. Significantly, only the sumatran elephant seems a genetically distinct unit, almost approaching that of a species itself. It is preeminently threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, and poaching. Species interactions endangered sumatran elephants. They are listed by the iucn as critically endangered. The borneo elephant is believed to be a fourth subspecies. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. The sumatran elephant is a type of friend that first appeared in the gunma safari park collab appearance.
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