Sumatran Elephant Calf born in Indonasia boosts conservation hopes. Image: World Wildlife Fund.
(The Post News)-
On Monday, a Sumatran baby calf was born at the Buluh Cina nature tourism area in Riau Province, Sumatra’s western island. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, Sumatran elephants are on the verge of extinction, with only about 2,400–2,800 remaining worldwide.
Genman Suheffi Hasibuan has reported that the calf, currently unnamed, was born to a 24-year-old female by the name of Ngatini and a 25-year-old bull named Robin. Genman says the female calf weighs 104 kilograms and is healthy, lively, and actively looking for milk from the mother.
Two additional extremely endangered Sumatran elephant calfs were born late last year in Sumatra Island’s Way Kambas National Park. Indonesian officials have celebrated the births, claiming that conservation efforts played a critical role in keeping these species from extinction.
The elephant population is under threat due to rampant poaching for their tusks, where they are prized in the illegal wildlife trade. Currently, the archipelago nation is facing a continuous battle against wildlife crime, with several elephant poisoning cases being reported in recent years. Unfortunately, deforestation is another factor contributing to the extinction of these species, putting them at greater risk of conflict.
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