The conflict of elephants with humans in Sumatra, especially in Riau Province is quite high due to elephants for most people is still considered as pests. The explosion of human population and government policies under the name of development, making forests as Sumatra’s elephant habitat to be more rapid than predicted.
The data from the Indonesia Gajah Conservation Forum mentioned, the population of Sumatran elephants (elephas maximus sumatranus) decreased drastically up to 70 percent in the last 20-30 years rate and was estimated to live approximately 1.970 tails in 2013 due to the threat of forest habitat loss, conflict with humans as well as ivory hunt.
Gajah Conservation Centre (PKG) in Minas area, Siak Regency, Riau, became a small hell for the continuation of the endangered animals. Riau’s PKG is a unit in the Riau’s Large Resource Conservation (BBKSDA), which is the body under the shade of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
A mahout with Sumatra elephants headed to the area of grazing in the Riau Gajah Conservation Centre.
The mahout cleans dry grass in the Riau Gajah Conservation Center.
The existence of elephant asylum, which was formerly called the Center for Gajah (PLG) Riau had a pair since the beginning was formed around 1988. The first location in Sebanga, Bengkalis Regency, but it is forced to move the place because of the high conflicts with local communities.
In 2001 PLG Riau began to occupy the location now located in the Taman Raya Sultan Syarif Hasyim II area, Siak. Currently there are 16 Indonesian elephant tails in that place, 11 of which are male elephants.
The majority of elephants in PKG is originally a wild elephant saved. Every day continues to be monitored by about 30 pawang (mahout) and medical personnel, even routinely every three months given the drug.
The number of Sumatra elephants in Riau Gajah Conservation Center.
Seekor elephant Sumatra studied the attraction of lifting the pawang with the supply in Riau Gajah Conservation Centre.
The elephant is now benign, even there is a heavy-traction and familiar with humans. The group of elephants is also often subject to the field when the human conflict occurs with wild elephants.
Sharing space for bongsor’s satwa was previously suited only a fantasy, but the hope will continue to be kept in Riau’s PKG.
Photo and Text: FB Anggoro
The mahout breaks Sumatra elephants in Riau Conservation Centre.
See the Sumatran elephants in Riau Gajah Conservation Centre.
The Sumatran villa eats a pineapple fruit that contains worms in Sumatran Conservation Centre.
