Main Topic

• Ensure that all remaining elephant pouches are protected, including those within concessions.
• For concessions that are in the elephant's pouch, it is necessary to ensure that there is an elephant conservation plan in the concession.
• APBN allocation for species conservation needs to be increased.

Summary

The Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) has decreased in population from time to time. In 1985 the population was 2800 – 4800 individuals (Blounch 1985), while in 2021, as per the Circular Letter of the Director General of KSDAE, it would be 924 – 1359 individuals. The decline in the Sumatran elephant population during 2011-2017 reached 700 individuals.

Not only the population, the living space, or commonly called the elephant pouch, is also shrinking. Local extinction occurred in almost half the elephant enclave. In 1985 there were 44 bags of Sumatran elephants, but only 22 remaining in 2021, and most of them are in critical condition (RTM 2020).

Various threats lurk on elephants, such as hunting, electric fences, snares and conflicts with humans that often lead to the death of Sumatran elephants. Moreover, as noted in the Strategy and Action Plan for Sumatran Elephant Conservation 2007 – 2017, 85% of elephant pouches are outside conservation areas.

Of course, many parties have not been idly by. However, the above data raises important questions regarding the performance of elephant conservation so far. To review it, Auriga Nusantara took the initiative to organize this Elephant Conservation Performance webinar.

TIME & LOCATION
Day/Date : Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Time : 13.30 - 15.30 WIB
Place : Auriga Nusantara youtube channel

Speakers and Presentation Topics

• Dr. Wisnu Sukmantoro (Vice Chairperson of the Animal Forest Network): Threats and Conservation of Sumatran Elephants in Indonesia
• Riszki Is Hardianto (Auriga Nusantara): Pockets of Sumatran Elephants in Concession
• Dr. Gunggu Senoaji (Bengkulu University Lecturer): Saving Sumatran Elephants Remaining in Bengkulu Province

Auriga also invited the Directorate General of KSDAE KLHK and Sinarmas Group to be a Speakers. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry is expected to present material on the APBN allocation for elephant conservation, while the Sinarmas Group is expected to present the design and practice of elephant conservation in its concessions. However, both of them were unable to attend.