Sumatran Elephant by Jordan

Sumatran elephants are the smallest of the Asian elephants. Males rarely develop long tusks, while those of adult females may be so short that they are hidden by the upper lip. This elephant can live up to 70 years in captivity, less in the wild.

The endangered Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is the smallest (and perhaps oldest) of the Asian subspecies and is unique to the island of Sumatra. It has been protected in Indonesia since 1931. Population surveys conducted in the 1980’s estimated that only 2800 – 4500 wild elephants remained. It is likely that even fewer survive in today’s fragmented forests. The term "pocket elephants" was originally coined to refer to their diminutive size, and also reflects their survival today in the few remaining "pockets" of lowland rainforest.

The combined effects of road development, logging, conversion of forest to agriculture, and human resettlement have contributed to the loss of thousands of hectares of elephant habitat. As habitat shrinks, elephants are forced into conflict with humans. The destruction of crops and houses results in injuries and deaths of both humans and elephants.

Villagers faced with raiding elephants demanded that the government resolve the problem. To these villagers, the elephants were just dangerous crop-raiding pests. Occasionally, angry villagers have poisoned elephants. Unlike other Asian countries, with strong elephant traditions, elephants are not revered in Indonesia.

The government of Indonesia began establishing Elephant Centers on Sumatra in 1986 in an attempt to relieve human-elephant conflicts. Today there are six Centers that hold approximately 400 elephants.

Updated 2010-11-06

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