Domesticated Elephants in Indonesia

Historically, there was a tradition of domesticated elephants on Sumatra focussed on the courts of the Royal Sultans. But with the coming of the colonial powers, the tradition declined and died out entirely in the 19^th century.

Despite having no recent tradition of domestication, in 1985, the Indonesian government resorted to a policy of capturing and training elephants in response to increasing human-elephant conflict brought about by deforestation. The policy involved the establishment of six Elephant Training Centres which were later renamed Elephant Conservation Centres (ECC’s). The centres rapidly grew in size and by the end of 2000, were operating at capacity with more than 350 elephants in residence.

Many conservation and welfare groups have great reservations concerning this strategy. The ECC’s readily admit that the standard of mahouts is quite poor and that they have no real bond with the elephants. Many people have expressed reservation about the methods used in the camps and there are known to be problems with overcrowding.

The government is also known to be concerned about the large cost of maintaining the ECC’s, which use up the majority of the budget for elephant conservation. One answer might be for the ECC elephants to be utilised by the tourist industry, but it appears that poor standards of training and mahoutship may subject potential tourists to an unacceptable level of risk.

Save "Badak Jawa"

"Badak Jawa” or a single horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Sondaicus) is a member of the Rhinocerotidae family, one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist until today. It is the same genus with India Rhinoceros. These rhinos have thick skin resembling armor. Its length can reach 3.2M and height to 1.7M, however the size is still smaller than the India Rhinoceros. The size of horn is about 20 cm, smaller than the other horn rhino species.

“Badak Jawa” able to live until 45 years old in the wild, and usually lives in lowland rain forest, wet grasslands and large flood plain areas. These rhinos are mostly calm, except when the breeding season and raise their children, live in a groups and often congregate near a mud puddle or an area with a lot of mineral content. Adult rhinoceros have almost no predators as an enemy, tend to avoid humans but do not hesitate to attack humans if feel disturbed.   

Once “Badak Jawa” is one of Asia most numerous population and spread across many region in Asia. Although called "Badak Jawa", they live spread throughout the islands of Indonesia, to Southeast Asia, India and China. Unfortunately this species now is in extremely critical status, with only found in two known wild areas. They are included the rarest mammals on earth, only about 50 live in Taman Nasional Ujung Kulon, Indonesia. While in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam the population is estimated not more than 8 tails. The reduced of “Badak Jawa” population due to poaching for its horn, which is very valuable in traditional Chinese medicine. Other factors is the loss of habitat due to the Vietnam War in Southeast Asia, susceptible to disease, and reduced of various genetic that cause proliferation. In the endemic diseases or natural disasters such as tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes of Krakatau Mountain, the “Badak Jawa” population in Indonesia is expected to be immediately vanished.

Population and Conservation

Almost thirty years ago, the Sumatran Elephants occurred in 44 populations in all the Sumatran Provinces with the largest population being centered in the Riau Province. However, by 2008 the population of these elephants showed a drastic declination with recorded local extinction in 23 out of the 43 identified ranges of their habitat. According to a recent survey, out of the earlier large population of Sumatran Elephant in Riau Province only 350 could survive at present time.

Sumatran Island has been considered to have the worst rate of deforestation in the world. The transformation of forests into housing areas, farmlands, palm-oil plantations, mining, and illegal logging sites have severely narrowed down the habitats of Sumatran Elephants. Therefore, the rapidly reducing source of elephants’ food often forces the elephants to enter the nearby human settlement areas, triggering a human-elephant conflict. Besides this, poaching of elephants has further reduced their population.

Over fifty percent of Sumatran Elephants have lost their lives between the years 1985 and 2007. Within this period, more than 69 % of their habitat has been lost due to forest degradation. In fact, several provinces in Sumatra have witnessed the local extinction of these animals within just a single elephant generation. Unfortunately, the driving forces causing this rapid loss of habitat for the elephants are still unchecked and have become more intense in the last decade.

In Aceh, a small population of elephants of around 500 was distributed all across the lowland areas. However, with the increasing rate of deforestation, the instances with large herds of elephants entering and destroying agricultural land and palm-oil plantations have increased tremendously in the last decade. As a result, 36 elephants have been reported to have died by electrocution, poisoning and manmade traps in the last four years. In fact, most of the deaths took place near palm-oil plantations.

Therefore, in 2012, the earlier “Endangered” status of the Sumatran Elephant had to be changed to “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List. Around 2,400 – 2,800 Sumatran Elephants have been estimated to be surviving in about 25 fragmented populations all across the island of Sumatra. Although many laws have been enacted by the Indonesian government for conserving the elephants’ population, with the present rate of poaching and deforestation these animals still might disappear in less than a decade.

Sumatran Elephants

As the name suggests, the Sumatran Elephant is endemic to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It is one of the three sub-species of Asian Elephant that also includes the Indian and the Sri Lankan Elephant. However, this sub-species has become an endangered species due to the drastic decline of their population in the last 75 years. It has been estimated that these animals have lost about 80 % of their total population within just a span of three generations due to loss of habitat, mainly caused by the expansion of palm-oil plantations.

As a sub-species of Asian Elephant, the Sumatran Elephants are considerably smaller in size than the African Elephants. This sub-species can reach a maximum height of 3.2 m(10.5 ft) and can weigh as much as 4000 kg (8,800 lb). Compared to Sri Lankan and Indian Elephants, the Sumatran subspecies have a lighter skin color and minimum depigmentation marks on the body. The females are smaller and lighter than the males and have shorter tusks that are barely visible. In comparison to the tusks of the other Asian sub-species, the tusks of the male Sumatran subspecies are relatively shorter.

The average lifespan of the Sumatran Elephant is 60 years. It may vary depending on food supply and living condition. In captivity, the Sumatran Elephants that were provided with adequate food and given proper health treatment have lived up to the age of 75 years. On the other hand, many elephants living in the wild could barely reach the minimum age of 60 years due to malnourishment and various life threats.

Relative species

The Sumatran Elephant is a subspecies of the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) and shares its genus with the Sri Lankan (E. m. maximus) and Indian Elephant (E. m. indicus). Out of the three recognized subspecies of Asian Elephant, the Sumatran Elephant is the smallest in size. The males of this species also bear the smallest tusks. Unlike the Indian and Sri Lankan Elephant, the skin coloration of Sumatran Elephant is considerably lighter. These elephants also exhibit very less depigmentation marks on their skin whereas the Sri Lankan Elephants have very distinctive skin discoloration marks on their forehead, ears and belly.

Wild elephants in Indonesia

Wild Elephants in Indonesia

Historically the numbers of wild elephants in Indonesia have been underestimated. The provision of tracts of largely uncharted forest on both Sumatra and Kalimantan led to a lack of awareness of elephants. Since the mid 20th century, there has been a substantial immigration to Sumatra and significant deforestation as a result.

Contact and conflict with elephants increased and as a result, population figures were revised upwards.

The main problems involving wild elephants in Indonesia are:

Habitat Loss – The wild forests of Indonesia are being converted for commercial use at an unprecedented and unsustainable rate.

Human-Elephant Conflict – Deforestation and the accompanying habitat shrinkage have led to major conflict with elephants in Sumatra. Elephants raid food crops, destroy rubber, palm oil and coconut plantations and even more seriously, are increasingly responsible for the destruction of villages and a growing number of human deaths.

Poaching – Much of the alleged poaching in Indonesia is actually more attributable to farmers protecting their crops and killing eleattributes bowustration.

The response of the Indonesian government to these growing problems has been highly unusual. Originally it was proposed to cull the problem elephants by shooting. However, an outcry from the international and domestic public led these plans to be shelved. Instead, the authorities have been capturing and either relocating or domesticating wild elephants. Most of the elephants are being held in Elephant Conservation Centres, but these are filled beyond capacity and are overcrowded.

This policy has now halted, but the problems of human-elephant conflict still remain on a massive scale. Unlike many of the Asian elephants range states, there is not a deep cultural attachment to the elephant in Sumatra and little sympathy for the future of the animals in political circles or in communities which regularly come into contact with elephants. This makes the task of conserving Sumatra’s unique species of elephants that much harder.

Not much is known about Kalimantan’s elephants. They live in the extreme north of the province and there is known to be considerable cross border migration into Borneo.

5 Things to Know About the Sumatran Elephant

The Sumatran elephant, found only in western Indonesia, is one of several critically endangered species that call Indonesia home. Others include the Javan Tiger and Javan rhinoceros, green sea turtle and Borneo birdwing — a species of butterfly. According to the World Wildlife Fund, or WWF, a global conversation group, the elephants are vital in maintaining the biodiversity of the island to which they are indigenous.
But the number of Sumatran elephants is dwindling as urban development and agricultural expansion to make way for palm oil and other types of agriculture cuts into their habitats.

On Feb. 21, wildlife authorities found the remains of seven dead elephants outside Tesso Nilo National Park, home to some of the largest remaining rainforests in plantation-rich Riau province in central Sumatra. WWF in Riau said they were allegedly poisoned. Wildlife authorities have not released results of their investigation and no suspects have been named.

Riau has seen its elephant population drop dramatically over the past decade, according to WWF. Since 2004 it has recorded 128 elephant deaths in the province, most of them due to conflicts with humans or poaching.

Here are a few other things worth knowing about these gentle giants.


1. Critically Endangered
Sumatran elephants are part of the Asian elephant family, which are slightly smaller than their African counterparts. Male Sumatran elephants have relatively short tusks, while females’ tusks are hidden behind their upper lips.

These elephants are protected under an Indonesia law on conservation approved in 1990 and were listed in 2012 as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. (Prior to that they were recognized simply as endanger).

2. Population dwindling
The current Sumatran elephant population lies somewhere between 2,400 and 2,800, according to WWF, which estimates that around 330 elephants are currently living in Riau province.

As forested areas where these elephants once roamed have been converted into plantations, however, tensions between them and the surrounding community have increased, said Syamsidar, a communications officer with WWF in Riau.

“Their ranges have changed, so people get upset, because they think these elephants have caused them problems,” she said. In recent years dozens of elephants have died due to poisoning, she added.

3. Not enough space to roam
Elephants typically consume around 150 kilograms of food and 180 liters of water each day. They also require spaces of up to 20 kilometers to roam freely.

Ideally, while walking around the forests, elephants leave seeds — carried in their feces — that help the forest regenerate. As their range of movement becomes more limited due in part to deforestation, their population and that of other species suffers, said Ms. Syamsidar.


4. Poor law enforcement
Under Indonesia’s law on Conservation of Living Resources and their Ecosystems, people are prohibited from taking, killing or trading in protected species. Anyone who violates the law could face a maximum punishment of up to five years in prison and a fine of 100 million rupiah ($8,600).

Muhammad Zanir, a spokesman for the government’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency in Riau, said the government does its best to enforce the law, but lack of skilled staff makes it difficult. When elephants are found dead, for example, “we need to take them to a laboratory for testing,” he said. “And that takes time and money.”

5. Human contact adds a threat
Poaching by hunters who want their tusks is one of the main reasons the elephant population has been declining, said Mr. Zanir. Increasing contact with humans is another.

By nature, elephants do not pose a threat to people, said Ms. Syamsidar. But by continuing to traverse once-forested areas converted into plantations or farmland, they inevitably come into contact – which sometimes leads to conflict.

Sometimes they feed on or trample crops, she explained. “People view the elephants that roam in their plantation areas as pests.”

According to WWF, conflicts between humans and elephants in Riau province resulted in damages to plantations amounting to an estimated 1.99 billion rupiah ($31.7 million).

Elephant Safari Park

The Elephant Safari Park offers a new concept in Eco tourism. Here you can enjoy the exciting adventure of Elephant Trekking while you are also helping to save the endangered Indonesian elephant (one of world's rarest elephants).

Currently there are less than 1,100 Indonesian Elephants left in the wild and their numbers are rapidly decreasing. At the Elephant Safari Park we are assisting, through proceeds from the sale of elephant paintings, with the relocation of wild elephants to special reserves setup by the Indonesian Government to assist with breeding programs to help build up the depleting numbers.

The aim of teaching these gentle giants the fine art of painting is so their artworks may be exhibited and sold to a world wide audience, generating much needed funds for the continued rescue, care and upkeep of the Sumatran elephants in our Safari refuge. Selling the art works of our safari park 'stars' not only raises the profile of these humble giants, but part of the proceeds goes directly back into transmigrating other endangered Sumatran elephants to our Park sanctuary, feeding, breeding & development programs, and to assist with costs of medical and vitamin supplements needed to maintain the health and well-being of our elephants.

The sale of Bali Adventure Tours Safari Park 'Elephant Art' together with the Bali Adventure Tours Elephant FoundationGift Shop and donations raises funds and awareness of the plight of this most endangered species.

Grab this opportunity to own a unique work of art and help support one of Asia's most endangered and forgotten species. Click on the link below to view the range of Elephant artisan works or donate directly to the 'Elephant Foundation' and help save a Sumatran elephant. Visit the Foundation Gift Shop.

At right is a photo of Nigel Mason, the owner of The Elephant Safari Park at Taro, Bali, with Riski an 18-month-old Sumatran elephant. Riski was one of ten elephants that Nigel's company is currently trying to relocate to The Elephant Safari Park in Bali from Central Sumatra, a journey that will travel over three islands and take six days, non-stop by truck and ferry. Nigel was heartbroken recently to be informed that Riski, who's name translates to 'Lucky' in English, didn't make it and has died before she could be rescued. The photo of Nigel and Riski was taken late last year at Riau province in Central Sumatra.   Without your support more of these beautiful creatures will die before they can be rescued.

Help Support Sumatran Elephants by Supporting our Efforts

STOP PRESS! - All Eyes on Eva

Having suffered from cataract blindness most of her life - Eva our adorable 21-year-old elephant is about to receive a new look on life!

London based ophthalmic surgeon, Ali Mearza, from St Georges Hospital London, recently visited the Elephant Safari Park to assess what could be done with the ailing elephant, and the prognosis is prosperous!

Now all eyes are on Eva as she is about to receive the first elephant cataract eye operation in Bali.

With thanks to the assistance of the John Fawcett Foundation for Humanitarian Projects in Indonesia, whose mobile eye clinic will not only perform the operation on Eva, but access the large lens needed for the operation implant from Fort Worth, Texas, USA, the future will certainly look clearer for Eva!