The Birth Of A Sumatran Elephant Baby In Pelalawan Riau

PEKANBARU - A Sumatran elephant baby was born in the Gajah Estate Ukui Conservation Unit of PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) Pelalawan Regency, Riau Province Thursday, April 6 at 05.00 WIB from the mother of a fostered elephant named "Carmen".

The baby elephant who was born male with a weight of 90.9 kilograms and was born in normal condition. The mother of the 14-year-old elephant Carmen who was born in the same location on January 5, 2009 from a female mother named Meri.

Head of the Riau KSDA Center, Genman S. Hasibuan, Friday said that he had carried out a health check on the mother and child of the newborn. Genman expressed his appreciation and gratitude to PT. RAPP for treating the Sumatran elephant deposit well, and was proven by the birth of several elephants since the storage.

"Until now, three elephants have increased in the Gajah Estate Ukui Conservation Unit. What was originally four were seven, four females with the names Mery, Carmen, Ika and Mira and three males with the names Raja Arman, Ade and a newborn elephant," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, April 7.

The placement of elephants in the Gajah Estate Ukui Conservation Unit, PT. RAPP, he continued, began in 1994 at the Langgam Estate as many as 4 individual elephants (3 females and 1 male). However, since 2007 it has been moved to the Ukui Estate and named the Gajah Estate Ukui Conservation Unit.

"Hopefully this birth will give a new spirit in the preservation of elephants in the future," said Genman S. Hasibuan.

PT RAPP's Conservation Head, Indra Gunawan also said that he would continue to support the Riau KSDA Center in Elephant Conservation in Riau Province.