JAKARTA - The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) ensures efforts to protect the Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) through cooperation with the Vantara conservation center from India, including encouraging the revitalization of elephant hospitals in Indonesia.
Director of Species and Genetic Conservation of the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) of the Ministry of Finance, Ahmad Munawir, said his party was committed to strengthening the protection of Sumatran elephants that were in a critical population condition, one of which was by visiting the Elephant Hospital in Way Kambas National Park with Faunaland Indonesia and international partner Vantara from India.
"From Vantara, it will help Indonesia to build or revitalize the elephant hospital in Way Kambas, and maybe in the future it can also build other hospitals on the island of Sumatra, which may be in Riau, and maybe in Aceh," said Ahmad as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, December 24.
Ahmad said that this step was part of the direction of President Prabowo Subianto and Minister of Forestry (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni to improve the ecosystem as the main habitat of Sumatran elephants.
"Our visit here (Way Kambas) with a team from Faunaland Indonesiadan also Vantara, this is a form of commitment from the Ministry of Forestry, especially our minister, Mr. Raja Juli, we must improve the ecosystem as a habitat rather than the Sumatran Elephant," he explained.
Based on the IUCN red list data, the Sumatran elephant population is in the critical category, endangered, due to the decline in numbers and damage to the habitat. Currently, Ahmad Munawir explained that the elephant's habitat pocket, which was previously more than 44 locations, has shrunk to about 21 fragmented pockets.
Therefore, the Ministry of Social Affairs encourages multi-stakeholder collaboration to save the elephant population and habitat, including building inter-habitat connectivity through ecological corridors.
Meanwhile, Faunaland Indonesia CEO Danny Gunalen appreciated the trust of the Ministry of Finance and his party was committed to supporting the conservation and preservation of Indonesian biodiversity, especially the Sumatran Elephant, through a partnership with Vantara.
Vantara is a giant wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, with one of the most advanced Elephant Hospitals in the world.
Danny explained that the results of the initial survey showed the urgent need for the Gajah Way Kambas Hospital, including the provision of a special elephant ambulance.
"Like in the short term, maybe a quarter of an ambulance will be needed, because there is none here to transport elephants. Animal ambulance is very sophisticated, this car has a forklift and others, and the needs needed," he said.
In addition to short-term needs, Faunaland and Vantara also prepare long-term plans in the form of revitalization or construction of a new hospital for elephants. "We will revitalize the elephant hospital or even make a new one," said Danny.
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