One Sumatran Elephant Born In Padang Sugihan SM, Banyuasin, South Sumatra

A newborn female Sumatran elephant baby in the area of the Elephant Training Center Resort Conservation Area XV Padang Sugihan Wildlife Refuge, Banyuasin, South Sumatra, Wednesday (13/7/2022). (ANTARA/HO-BKSDA South Sumatra)

BANYUASIN - The South Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Sumsel) announced the birth of a female Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) at the Elephant Training Center Track 21 Wildlife Sanctuary (SM) Padang Sugihan, Banyuasin.

“We are very happy to welcome the birth of a female baby elephant in the area of Jalan 21 Padang Sugihan. This is an achievement in efforts to preserve and increase the Sumatran elephant population, especially in the South Sumatra region," said Head of the South Sumatra BKSDA Ujang Wisnu Barata, in Palembang as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 13.

The baby elephant was born healthy and has a perfect or complete physical organ structure in the area of the Elephant Training Center Conservation Resort Region XV Padang Sugihan Wildlife Sanctuary on Wednesday (13/7) at around 05.00 WIB in the morning.

The baby elephant was the result of a cross between a female elephant named Elsa (24 years 10 months) from Air Sugihan Route 18 and a male elephant named Gapula (31 years old) from Talang Mante, Banyuasin.

Based on the results of the examination and morphometric measurements, the baby elephant had a height of 77 centimeters, a body circumference of 102 centimeters, a rear leg circumference of 49 centimeters, a circumference of 50 centimeters for a front leg, a tail length of 39 centimeters and a trunk length of 36 centimeters.

"The baby from the mother elephant who has been cared for by Hariyanto as the mahout (elephant handler) on Line 21 was born healthy and the physical structure is perfect or complete," he said, so that currently there are a total of 28 Sumatran elephants on Line 21 BC. Sugihan Field.

Meanwhile, Director of Conservation of Biodiversity Species and Genetics at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indra Eksploitasia, in his official statement received in Palembang, said that his party really appreciates the success of the South Sumatra BKSDA officers for the birth of the Sumatran elephant calf.

Based on the Decree of the Director General of KSDAE number SK.180/IV-KKH/2015 Sumatran elephants are set in the 25 list of priority endangered animals to be increased whose population is 10 percent.

"Hopefully the Sumatran elephants in their natural habitat, especially South Sumatra and in Sumatra in general, can continue to be sustainable," he said.