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!

TRAINING THE SUMATRAN ELEPHANT TO WORK

The training of an elephant differs from animal to animal. Depending on the will and spirit of the wild elephant, training can take as little as six months or as long as six years. In order for the trainer to gain respect from the elephant, the trainer must exert his dominance over it through beatings, starvation and deprivation of sleep and water. To restrain the elephant from being destructive and harmful, it is tied to the ground and held there until it is comfortable with the trainer's presence. To reward the Sumatran elephant after its long, hard training, a special song is sung and the elephant is patted on the head by his proud trainers. This ceremony marks the ending of its instruction and the beginning of its new career as a worker.

The elephant is mainly employed with felling trees and carrying them back to camp. Being a live bulldozer, they are able to carry logs weighing as much as six tons with dignity and grace. Sometimes an enormous bull elephant is tied to a tree and used to lure other elephants to captivity. Its superiority attracts them to him. Despite the elephant's size, it can still perform its duties with easy agility. Not only does the pachyderm move logs, but it also transports people to their destinations smoothly and efficiently.

Because elephants are such magnificant, easily trained animals, they are used in circus performances. These shows consist of make-believe hunts, soccer games, and many stunts. In Asia, superstition and tradition has always favored the elephant, where they are believed to have special powers. Many Asians believe that walking under an elephant brings good luck. In the Far East, elephants have always been considered sacred, holy animals. That is why their respecting admirers travel miles to see them. Of late, fate has looked poorly upon the elephants and extinction lurks nearer, but should they die out, they will long be remembered as adroit, graceful, regal animals.

All about Sumatran Elephant

I. Habitat

Elephant travels much within broad home range so that they need more than one type of habitat. Forest types suitable for Sumatran elephants based on research are:

1. Swamp forest
This forest type encompasses swamp grass land, primary swamp forest, or secondary swamp forest dominated by Gluta renghas, Campenosperma auriculata, C. Macrophylla, Alstonia spp, dan Eugeniaspp.

2. Peat Swamp Forest
Vegetation types in this forest type are: Gonystilus bancanus, Dyera costulata, Licuala spinosa, Shorea spp., Alstonia spp., and Eugenia spp.

3. Lowland forest
This forest type is located in the altitude of 0-750 m above sea level with dominant vegetation of Dipterocarpaceae family.

4. Lower mountain rain forest
This forest type is located in the altitude of 750-1,500 m above sea level with dominant vegetation of Altingia excelsa, Dipterocarpus spp., Shorea spp., Quercus spp., dan Castanopsis spp.
 

 II. Requirements to Live in Nature

1. Shelter 
Sumatran elephants are categorized as warm blooded animals thus in the hot weather condition, these animals will find shelter (thermal cover) to stabilize their body temperature to fit with the environment temperature. The locations usually used for shelter and rest at day light are the places covered with dense vegetation.

2. Diet
Sumatran Elephants are also categorized as herbivorous animals so that they need green food available sufficiently in their habitat. Elephants also need habitat with tree vegetation for their supplement in fulfilling the need for calcium mineral in order to strengthen their bone, teeth, and ivory. Since the digest system is less perfect, an adult elephant needs food in a big amount between 200-300 kg biomass per day or 5-10% of its body weight.

Sumatran elephant food types in natural habitat comprises of some kinds of wild herb, liana, tree bark, banana, and young leaves. If they invade paddy field or farming land, elephants will eat paddy, sugar cane, young coconut leaves, fruit such as papaya, and other seedlings.

3. Water 
Elephants are very much dependent to water thus in the afternoon they look for water sources for drinking, bathing and wallowing. A Sumatran elephant needs to drink about 20-50liter/day. When the water sources are dried, elephant can dig for 50-100 cm using his front feet and trunk in search of water.

4. Mineral 
Elephant also needs mineral salt such as: calcium, magnesium, and callium. These minerals are licked by consuming soil heap contained salt, loosing the hard slope by its front leg and trunks, and eating while raining or after raining.

5. Home range
Elephant is the biggest land mammal that still exist in this age thus it needs wide home range. The Asian Elephant home range is varied between 32.4 - 166.9 km2 meanwhile the home range of elephant herd in primary forest is twice bigger than that of in secondary forest. This condition is related to food productivity in these two different forest conditions.

6. Security and comfort
Elephant needs secured and comfortable situation so that breeding habit will not be disturbed and production process will work well. Therefore wood felling activities done by concession companies have disturbed security and comfort for elephants. 

Behavior of the Sumatran Elephant

Sumatran elephants are very social animals. They use infrasonic sounds to communicate with each other. Sumatran elephants roam around the jungle pushing over trees. As they walk they use their roaring and infrasonic sounds to communicate.

Elephants are very protective of their young. When they are being attacked by predators, the older elephants surround their young in the middle of a circle with the bulls on the outside. All of the females are protective of the young. These social pachyderms travel in large groups.

The elephants' strangest behavior involves actions toward their dead. When an elephant dies the others come around, sniffing and moving the bones. They do this as if they are trying to remember the dead elephant. This odd behavior is not yet fully understood.

Elephants are not very friendly zoo animals. There have been cases where they have killed people. Elephants are not easy animals to train. Sometimes elephants fight each other because they want to know who is the strongest and who will have first choice of the female.

Elephants are known to eat a great multitude of food. They eat anything but meat. They eat bananas, palm tree leaves, and almost any other plant. Because elephants have a tremendous appetite, much of Sumatra's jungles and crops are being trampled down.

Habit of sumatran elephant

A. Social Habit

A.1. Living in herd
In natural habitat, elephant lives in herd (gregarius). Living in group is a social habit that pays important role in protecting the herd members. Number of members in one herd is varied depending on weather and resources condition in the habitat in particular the availability of food and extent of home range. One group elephant comprises about 20-35 elephants or some say about 3-23 elephants

Each Sumatran Elephant herd is led by the biggest adult cow, while the adult bull only lives periodically for breeding with some cows in that group. Old bull will live in solitaire since he is unable to follow his group. Young bull, reaching his adolescence is pushed to leave the group or voluntarily join other bull group. Meanwhile, young cow keep staying in the group and acts as the "nanny" in the group.

A.2. Roaming
Naturaly elephants roam in group following permanent paricular paths within one year period of travel. Elephant home range can reach 7 km in one night, even it can reach 15 km per day in dry season or fruit season. Elephant's speed to walk and run in forest and in swamp exceed that of human being's in the same area. Elephant can also swim to cross deep river using their trunk as the snorkel gear or breathing pipe.

When roaming, elephant herd will communicate each other to keep the group integrity. Elephants communicate using soft sound produced by the vibration of its upper trunk. It has been discoverred recently that elephants can communicate through subsonic sound that can reach 5 km. This finding has unveiled the mystery of coordination of elephant herd in search of food in far split up distance while they don't see each other.

A.3. Breeding
Elephants do not have breeding season, they can breed along the year ,however breeding occurs more often when rainy season reaches its top frequence in the area. Bull often behaves outrageously called musht which is indicated by secretion of temporal gland which drips onto its cheek between eyes and ears in black color and with stimulating smell. This habit occurs 3-5 times within 1-4 weeks and is often related with lust periode, however strong evidences 
this matter are still not available.

 
B. Individual Habit

B.1. Eating habit
Elephant is terrestrial mammal which is active at day and night, however most of them are active from 2 hours before late afternoon till 2 hours before dawn to search for food. Elephants often search for food while walking at night for 16-18 hours per day. They are not thrifty toward food thus they tend to leave much food leftover if there is better food available.

B.2. Drinking 
When bathing in river, elephants drink with their mouth while when bathing in shallow river or swamp they suck the the water with their trunks. Elephants are able to suck water to 9 litter in once suck.

B.3. Wallowing
Elephant often wallows in the mud at day light and afternoon when it searches for food. Wallowing habit is important to protect their skin from extoparacyte insect bite besides for cooling down its body.

B.4. Mineral lick 
Elephant search for salt by licking things or other objects containing salt with its trunk. Elephants also often hurt themselves to brush their blood that contains salt.

B.5. Resting
Elephants sleep twice in a day; at midnight, and day light. At night, elephants often sleep by lying down their body to the side using pillow made from grasses. In exhausted condition, they will snore. Meanwhile, at day light elephants sleep while standing under shady trees.

THE SUMATRAN ELEPHANT

The Sumatran elephant's habitat is in Sumatra, Indonesia. The average male elephant reaches eight feet high and weighs up to six tons. A baby elephant can weigh up to one ton! The males are always larger than the females. They're bulky and gargantuan. They are massive creatures and docile when they are in the untamed world and even when they are domesticated.

Sumatran elephants have enough strength to knock down a tree. They can also pick up a log using just their trunk and their tusks. A baby elephant is called a calf; the females are called cows.

Elephants have a trunk, two tusks, two eyes, two ears and two lumps on their head. They are known to be clever animals. When an elephant is hot, they fan themselves by flapping their ears back and forth. When an elephant herd wants to move they use their ears as a guide. They can hear infrasonic sounds. Their hearing range is very large. Elephants hear some noises that can not be heard by a human ear.

Sumatran elephants are smaller than the African elephants and so these elephants also have smaller ears. Their eyes are always very watery. They have a very poor sight and depend on their well-developed ears and their sense of smell to aid them in times of need. Their trunk is their nose. They also use it like a hand.

Their trunk has over 40,000 muscles that enables them to move it. Their trunk is the most flexible body part that they have. Just below their trunk they have their tusks. Only male Sumatra elephants have tusks. Elephants are hunted for their tusks and people use it for ivory to make decorative structures.

We need to stop the poaching or else the population of elephants will dissapear at a rapid rate. Soon they will become extinct if we do not help protect them.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Similar to other elephants, the bulls of Sumatran Elephants also engage in fighting for getting access to receptive or estrous females. Sexual maturity among bulls usually takes place between 12 and 15 years. Sexually mature bulls under the age of 20 often go through an annual phase of heightened sexual excitement known as ‘musth.’ During this period of musth, the testosterone level in their body increases to such extent that it makes the bull extremely aggressive. Secretions containing pheromones can then be seen discharging from the bull’s paired temporal glands located between their eye and ear.

The gestation period of all the subspecies of Asian Elephant, including the Sumatran Elephant, ranges from 18 to 22 months. The female Sumatran Elephants usually give birth to a single calf while twins are rare. The parturition lasts only for about 10 seconds and occurs at night. Similar to other herbivores, the infant of Sumatran Elephants becomes able to stand on its own within 10 – 30 minutes after birth. At the time of birth, the newborn calf weighs around 100 kg (220 lb).


The calf suckles for about 3 years and is weaned till 4 or 5 years of age. A female Sumatran Elephant with a calf does not breed until her first calf is completely weaned in order to make sure that her offspring is fully tended before it becomes semi-independent. The female calves usually stay with their mother’s herd for the rest of their lives, while male calves are chased away after attaining sexual maturity. Moreover, the female elephants of this species stop reproducing after the age of 60.

Protecting the Sumatran Rhino

t was a stiflingly hot and humid afternoon in the dense rainforests on the island of Sumatra when I saw something white. White is not a color you see much in the rainforest; it becomes highlighted against the dark green of the forest.

At first I did not know what it was, then I realized it was a skeleton. I became excited by what I may find, but as I got closer, the reality of the situation crystalized and my head started to spin. It was a full skeleton of a Sumatran rhino laying in a clearing along an animal trail. The vegetation had been flattened in a wide circle, the center of which was a solid branch dug deep into the ground with a thick wire snare dangling from it.

This critically endangered species had captured my imagination growing up a world away in England. I’d always dreamt of catching a glimpse of one—but not like this. This Sumatran rhino had been poached for its horn.

Changing paths
I had just turned 19. It was my second summer in Indonesia on what can only be described as my dream internship studying primates and tigers with Fauna & Flora International. I wanted to study animals in the rainforest, but the moment I saw the Sumatran rhino skeleton, I knew I had to change course and fight for the very survival of the species and places that intrigue and captivate me. I like to fight for species little known to the general public like the Sumatran rhino and the saola. The Sumatran rhino will always be at the pinnacle of my goals; I will do all I can to ensure it thrives in the wild once again.

I’ll be the first to admit that it’s an uphill battle. But it’s not an impossible one.

Protecting a species
I co-authored the most-recent scientific assessment of the current conservation responses to save the species. In brief, we are falling short. Given that there are only around 100 left in the wild, it is clear that the survival of the Sumatran rhino now lies entirely within the hands of the government of Indonesia. WWF and partners like the International Rhino Foundation, Rhino Foundation of Indonesia, and the Wildlife Conservation Society stand ready to assist in all ways possible.

The good news is that we know the key actions required to save the Sumatran rhino:

Consolidate all Sumatran rhinos into no more than three sites. This will allow the remaining animals to find each other and breed.Establish intensive protection zones in these three sites with strict regulations, patrolling infrastructure, increasing ranger presence and closely monitoring individual animals.Enhance the captive population so we have a viable population.Mange the entire population as one so animals will have to be moved between sites and to and from captivity to ensure genetic and population viability.

The plight of Sumatran rhinos needs global attention and commitments of conservation to succeed. Significant financial support for implementing the above priority actions are being provided by the US and German governments as well as the Disney Conservation Fund. More is needed. And nothing can be achieved without rapid decision making and the highest level of political blessing in Indonesia.

The science is telling us that we can’t put off mounting a serious, concerted effort to save Sumatran rhinos. We have pulled three species of rhino back from the brink so we know we can do the same for the Sumatran rhino. I’m going to do my best. And with your support, I know we can not only save the Sumatran rhino from the edge of extinction, but we can recover its numbers across Sumatra.

The greater one-horned rhino

The greater one-horned rhino is the largest of the rhino species. Once found across the entire northern part of the Indian sub-continent, rhino populations were severely depleted as they were hunted for sport and killed as agricultural pests. This pushed the species very close to extinction in the early 20th century and by 1975 there were only 600 individuals surviving in the wild.

Thanks to rigorous conservation efforts, their numbers have increased dramatically since 1975. By 2015, conservation efforts saw the population grow to 3,555 in the Terai Arc Landscape of India and Nepal, and the grasslands of Assam and north Bengal in northeast India.

The greater one-horned rhino is identified by a single black horn about 8-25 inches long and a grey-brown hide with skin folds, which give it an armor-plated appearance. Greater one-horned rhinos are solitary creatures, except when sub-adults or adult males gather at wallows or to graze. Males have loosely defined home ranges that are not well defended and often overlap. They are primarily grazers, with a diet consisting almost entirely of grasses as well as leaves, branches of shrubs and trees, fruit and aquatic plants.

HABITAT LOSS

The enormous reduction in the range of rhinos was mainly caused by the disappearance of alluvial plain grasslands. Today, the need for land by the growing human population is a threat to the species. Many of the protected areas with rhinos have now reached the limit of the number of individuals they can support. This leads to human-rhino conflict as rhinos leave the boundaries of the protected areas to forage in the surrounding villages. Rhinos, mainly females, reportedly kill several people each year in India and Nepal.

Buffalo population of Yogyakarta drops to 1,208

The population of buffalo (Buballus buballis) in Yogyakarta province is decreasing year after year despite the superiority that the animals offer in terms of meat and dairy products.

Data at the provincial Agriculture Agency shows that there were 4,990 buffalos in the province in 2006 before decreasing to only 1,208 in 2011. 

The figure was far below the population of cows, which reached over 375,000 as of June 2011.

“This has happened not only here but also across Indonesia,” buffalo researcher Tridjoko Wisnu Murti of Gadjah Mada University’s School of Husbandry told The Jakarta Post, earlier this week.

He said that of the five regencies in the province, Sleman regency recorded the highest buffalo population of 678. The lowest population was found in Yogyakarta municipality, with only six.

According to Tridjoko, nationally the figure had decreased from 3.5 million to 1.3 million for the same period. This, he said, raised concern, especially at the time when the need for meat consumption in the country had been significantly increasing.

“Unfortunately, the government prefers importing cows to breeding buffalos,” he said, adding that Indonesia had an abundant population of the animal in the early 20th century.

He blamed the condition on the lack of the government’s attention to the animal despite what it offered.

Tridjoko, who is also a nutritionist and an expert in dairy technology, said that in terms of quality, buffalo meat was better than cow because the former contained less fat.

Reports said that not only did the buffalo have 70 to 90 percent less fat compared to beef, it also had 50 percent less cholesterol. And on top of that, it was higher in protein, iron and all omega and amino acids. 

“The nutrition value of 5 liters of buffalo milk equals to that of 10 liters of cow milk,” Tridjoko said.

Other factors blamed for the decrease in the buffalo population include the use of motorized tractors instead of buffalo-ridden ploughs to cultivate rice fields and increasing consumption of buffalo meat, especially among coastal communities.

Tridjoko expressed concern that if nothing was done by the government to increase the population, buffalos faced extinction in Indonesia. 

By growing buffalos the government would be implementing pro-poor, pro-growth, pro-health, pro-job and pro-environment policies, he said.

Buffalos are said to be able to adapt easily to the environment and easy to feed because they can eat agricultural waste while cows require complicated food supplies

Social Structure, Reproduction, and Sleep Habit of Komodo Dragon

Social Structure

Because large Komodos cannibalize young ones, the young often roll in fecal material, thereby assuming a scent that the large dragons are programmed to avoid. Young dragons also undergo rituals of appeasement, with the smaller lizards pacing around a feeding circle in a stately ritualized walk. Their tail is stuck straight out and they throw their body from side to side with exaggerated convulsions.

Reproduction and Development

Most mating occurs between May and August. With a group assembled around the carrion, the opportunity for courtship arrives. Dominant males can become embroiled in ritual combat in their quest for females. Using their tails for support, they wrestle in upright postures, grabbing each other with their forelegs as they attempt to throw the opponent to the ground. Blood is usually drawn and the loser either runs or remains prone and motionless.

The female Komodo lays about 30 eggs. A delay in laying may serve to help the clutch avoid the brutally hot months of the dry season. In addition, unfertilized eggs may have a second chance with a subsequent mating. The female lays her eggs in depressions dug on hill slopes or within the pilfered nests of megapodes—large, chicken-like birds that make nests of heaped earth mixed with twigs that may reach 3 feet (1 meter) in height and 10 feet (3 meters) across. While the eggs are incubating—about nine months—females may lie on the nests, protecting their future offspring. No evidence exists, however, for parental care of newly hatched Komodos.

The hatchlings weigh less than 3.5 ounces (100 grams) and average 16 inches (40 centimeters) in length. Their early years are precarious, and they often fall victim to predators, including their fellow Komodos. They feed on a diverse diet of insects, small lizards, snakes and birds. Should they live five years, they can weigh 55 pounds (25 kilograms) and stretch 6.5 feet (2 meters) long. By this time, they have moved on to bigger prey such as rodents, monkeys, goats, wild boars and the most popular Komodo food, deer. Slow growth continues throughout their lives, which may last more than 30 years

Sleep Habits

They escape the heat of the day and seek refuge at night in burrows that are just barely bigger than they are.

Lifespan

Dragons live about 30 years in the wild, but scientists are still studying this.

KOMODO DRAGON

Physical Description

A large lizard, Komodo dragons have long tails; strong, agile necks and sturdy limbs. Adult Komodo dragons are an almost-uniform stone color with distinct, large scales. Juvenile dragons may display more vibrant coloring and patterning. Their tongues are yellow and forked, appropriate for their draconian name.

The muscles of the Komodo's jaws and throat allow it to swallow huge chunks of meat with astonishing rapidity. Several movable joints, such as the intramandibular hinge opens the lower jaw unusually wide. The stomach expands easily, enabling an adult to consume up to 80 percent of its own body weight in a single meal, which most likely explains some exaggerated claims for immense weights in captured individuals. When threatened, Komodos can throw up the contents of their stomachs to lessen their weight in order to flee.

Although males tend to grow larger and bulkier than females, no obvious morphological differences mark the sexes. One subtle clue does exist: a slight difference in the arrangement of scales just in front of the cloaca. Sexing Komodos remains a challenge for human researchers; the dragons themselves appear to have little trouble figuring out who is who.

Size

The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard in the world. The largest verified specimen reached a length of 10.3 feet (3.13 meters) and weighed 366 pounds (166 kilograms). The largest wild dragons more typically weigh about 154 pounds (70 kilograms).

Native Habitat

Komodo dragons are limited to a few Indonesian islands of the Lesser Sunda group including Rintja, Padar and Flores, and of course the island of Komodo. They live in tropical savanna forests, but range widely over the islands, from beach to ridge top.

Food/Eating Habits

Monitors can see objects as far away as 985 feet (300 meters), so vision does play a role in hunting, especially as their eyes are better at picking up movement than at discerning stationary objects. Their retinas possess only cones, so they may be able to distinguish color but have poor vision in dim light. They have a much smaller hearing range than humans. The result is an animal that cannot hear such sounds as a low-pitched voice or a high-pitched scream.

Vision and hearing are useful, but the Komodo's sense of smell is its primary food detector. The Komodo smells much like a snake does. It uses its long, yellow forked tongue to sample the air, after which the two tongue tips retreat to the roof of the mouth where they make contact with the Jacobson's organs. The chemical analyzers "smell" a deer by recognizing airborne molecules. If the concentration present on the left tongue tip is higher than that sampled from the right, the Komodo knows that the deer is approaching from the left. This system, along with an undulatory walk in which the head swings from side-to-side, helps the dragon sense the existence and direction of odoriferous carrion from as far away as 2.5 miles (4 kilometers), when the wind is right.

When the Komodo is hunting and catches its prey, such as a deer, it attacks the feet first, knocking the deer off balance. When dealing with smaller prey, it may lunge straight for the neck. The dragon's basic strategy is simple: try to smash the quarry to the ground and tear it to pieces. Strong muscles driving powerful claws accomplish some of this, but the Komodo's teeth are its most dangerous weapon. They are large, curved and serrated and tear flesh with efficiency. If the deer fails to escape immediately, the Komodo will continue to rip it apart. Once convinced that its prey is incapacitated, the dragon may break off its offensive for a brief rest. The deer is now badly injured and in shock. The dragon then launches the final blow, a belly attack. The deer quickly bleeds to death and the Komodo begins to feed.

Its tooth serrations harbor bits of meat from the Komodo's last meal, either fresh prey or carrion. This protein-rich residue supports large numbers of bacteria. They have found some 50 different bacterial strains, at least seven of which are highly septic, in the saliva. If the prey somehow maneuvers away and escapes death at this point, chances are that its victory, and it, will be short- lived. The infections it incurs from the Komodo bite will probably kill it in less than a week. In addition to the bacteria in their saliva, researchers have recently documented that Komodos do have a venom gland found in their lower jaw. In addition to the damage the bacteria in their saliva do, the venom prevents the blood from clotting.

The Komodo bite is not deadly to another Komodo, however. Dragons wounded in battle with their comrades appear to be unaffected by the otherwise deadly bacteria and venom. Scientists are searching for antibodies in Komodo blood that may be responsible for saving them from the fate of the infected prey.

Large mammalian carnivores, such as lions, tend to leave 25 to 30 percent of their kill unconsumed, declining the intestines, hide, skeleton and hooves. Komodos eat much more efficiently, forsaking only about 12 percent of the prey. They eat bones, hooves and swaths of hide. They also eat intestines, but only after swinging them vigorously to scatter their contents. This behavior removes feces from the meal.

Komodo dragons eat almost any kind of meat. They scavenge from carcasses or stalk animals ranging in size from small rodents to large water buffalo. The young feed on mostly small gecko lizards or insects. They are tertiary predators (predator at the top of the food chain) and are cannibalistic. They can detect carrion from a considerable distance, about 2.5 miles (4 km), and actively seek it out. When hunting, Komodos hunt along game trails, where they wait for deer or boar to pass by. They then attack the prey; most attempts are unsuccessful in bringing down an animal. However, if the dragon is able to bite the prey, toxic bacteria and venom in the saliva will kill the prey within the next few days. After the prey animal dies, which may take up to four days, Komodos use their powerful sense of smell to locate the dead animal. A kill is usually shared by many Komodo dragons and very little is wasted.

The Smithsonian's National Zoo's Komodo dragon eats rodents, chicks and rabbits weekly. Occasionally, he gets fish.

Badak Jawa

Horned Javan Rhinoceros-one or small (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is Rhinocerotidae family members and one of five extant rhinoceroses. This rhino into the same genus with Indian rhino and have skin that resembles armor bermosaik. The rhino has a 3.1 to 3.2 m long and 1.4 to 1.7 m high. The rhino is smaller than the Indian rhinoceros and closer to the body with a large black rhino. Horn size is usually less than 20 cm, smaller than the other horn rhino species.

This rhino rhino once one of Asia's most widely spread. Although called "Javan", is not limited to animals living on the island of Java alone, but throughout the country, throughout Southeast Asia and in India as well as China. The species is now critically endangered, with only two known populations in the wild, and none in zoos. This rhino is probably the rarest mammals on earth. [4] The population of 40-50 rhinos live in Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia. Javan rhino population in the wild the other is in the Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam with an estimated population of no more than eight in 2007. Population decline Javan caused by hunting to take its horn, which is very valuable in traditional Chinese medicine, with a price of $ 30,000 per kilogram on the black market. [4] Reduced rhino population is also due to habitat loss, which is mainly caused by the war, like the war Vietnam in Southeast Asia also leads to reduced Javan rhino population and hinder recovery. [5] The only remaining two are in protected areas, but the Javan rhino hunted still be at risk, susceptible to disease and causes shrinking of genetic diversity in breeding disturbed. WWF Indonesia's second attempt to develop a Java rhino because in the event of disease or natural disasters such as tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes Krakatau, Javan rhino population will be immediately destroyed. [6] In addition, because of the invasion of steps to (arenga) and competition with bull for space and resources, it is increasingly desperate population. [6] The areas identified are safe and relatively close Hazy National Park on Mount Salak, West Java, which was once the habitat of the Javan rhinoceros. [6]

Javan Rhino can live for 30-45 years in the wild. These rhinos live in the lowland rain forest, wet meadows and areas of the flood plain. Javan rhinos are mostly quiet, except for courtship and rearing children, although a group can sometimes congregate near pools and places to get minerals. Adult rhino has no predators in their. Javan Rhino usually avoids humans, but will attack if it feels threatened. Scientists and conservationists rarely study the animals directly due to their rarity and the danger of interfering with such an endangered species. Researchers using camera traps and fecal samples to measure their health and behavior. Javan rhinoceros less studied than other rhino species

A Ranger Determined to Save Sumatra's Tigers

Abeng, coordinator of WWF’s Tiger Protection Units in Indonesia, has lived on the island of Sumatra his whole life. He leads our efforts to protect last wild tigers in Tesso Nilo-Bukit TigapuluhBukit Tigapuluh, or “30 Hills,” one of the last places on earth where elephants, tigers and orangutans coexist.

I’m old enough to remember when many tigers still roamed the forests, but young enough to know that if we don’t act now I could live long enough to see the last Sumatran tiger die from a poacher’s snare or bullet.

This is why I now devote myself to saving Sumatra’s tigers.

“We need a massive crackdown on poaching and trafficking if we are to save our wild tigers.”

Abeng
Coordinator of WWF’s Tiger Protection Units in Indonesia

There may be fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers left. Our camera traps have identified 47 in the Tesso Nilo–Bukit Tigapuluh landscape. And our Tiger Protection Units are fighting to save every one. Our small team of 10 patrols key habitats and collects data on illegal trade by identifying shops that sell tiger parts, investigating trafficking routes, and identifying the players involved in deadly wildlife crime. We share our data with local authorities and urge them to pursue the poachers and traffickers.

A memorable case was when we were working together with the local government authorities to track members of a smuggling ring in Sumatra. We were in the suspect’s house when one of my team literally followed his nose to where a tiger skin had been concealed, soaking in a strong smelling chemical often used to preserve skins. The tiger’s bones, which are highly valued on the black market for their supposed medicinal value, were not recovered.

Our enemies are determined and dangerous

One measure of my success as a ranger is that I am no longer free to chase the poachers as I once did. My face has become too familiar for me to continue operating undercover. Instead of catching traffickers myself, I help my patrol teams and monitor wildlife trade cases in court to ensure that the perpetrators get the maximum sentence.

In 2006, at the height of the poaching spree, we confiscated up to 70 snares in a month. By 2009, those numbers had dropped to a mere handful. But we know that in places where WWF is not yet working, the killing continues. Data from our WWF collaborators at TRAFFIC show that at least 66 Sumatran tigers have been killed in recent years, with more than half poached from protected areas such as national parks.

On the edge

Not so long ago, our neighboring islands of Java and Bali had their own tigers, too. But their forests were cleared for crops and timber, and their tigers were hunted relentlessly for their skins and teeth and bones. I believe their people are poorer for the loss.

I do not wish such a future for my island or for my family. We need a massive crackdown on poaching and trafficking if we are to save our wild tigers. Once believed to be eternal, they are now in danger of disappearing forever.

How you can help

Back A Ranger: As the only on-the-ground antipoaching group in the area, we face some limits—but we pride ourselves on our accomplishments. We need your help to achieve more. Please support our efforts and Back A Ranger. One hundred percent of your donation will provide vital support to men and women on the frontlines of battling wildlife crime.

Save 30 Hills: Every minute five football fields of rainforest in Sumatra is cleared for timber and replaced with pulpwood, rubber and oil palm plantations. As forests disappear, wildlife become increasingly vulnerable to humans, especially poachers. But there is a chance that we can save 30 Hills and the species we all love so much.