A Male Baby Elephant was Born in Riau

TheIndonesia.co - A male baby elephant was born at the Elephants Flying Squad camp, Lubung Kembang Bunga, Tesso Nilo National Park (TNTN) Lubuk Kembang Bungo Village, Ukui District, Pelalawan Regency, Riau, Indonesia, on Thursday, December 2, 2021. The calf was born with a height of 86 centimeters and a body length of 102 centimeters, a body circumference of 103 centimeters, and a weight of 84 kg.

Head of Region II Center for Natural Resources Conservation (BBKSDA) Riau, Heru Sutmatoro, said the baby male elephant was the child of a mother elephant named Ria, 45 years old. The calf is the fourth child of a mother elephant as a result of breeding with wild elephants.

"The male baby elephant was born at around 02.00 WIB (Thursday, December 2)," said Heru, Saturday, December 4, 2021. “The birth process took place normally. The mother and baby were in good health. Until now, the Riau BBKSDA medical team will continue to carry out health checks for the mother and baby elephants," said Heru

According to Heru, the Elephants Flying Squad in Tesso Nilo National Park had experienced four calf births from two tame elephant mothers, Lisa and Ria, in the last 5 years. Ria had delivered another three calves before, which are Tesso, Tino, and Harmoni Rimbo. A year ago, at the end of 2020, the mother "Lisa" also gave birth to a male elephant calf which is now named "Ryu". 

So this birth said Heru, bolsters the fact that the forest area of Tesso Nilo National Park is an important habitat that contributes to the increase in the Sumatran Elephant population. In 2011, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declared the Sumatran Elephant as in the Critically Endangered (CR) category, which means this animal is on the verge of extinction.

“The Sumatran elephant is a protected mammal species as stated in the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry," he explained. 

The birth of baby elephants in the Elephants Flying Squad of Tesso Nilo National Park increases optimism and enthusiasm.

"Currently, the total number of elephants in the Elephants Flying Squad camp of TNTN is ten. Consisting of four adult elephants, two juvenile elephants, and four calves," he stated.

Last month, we heard bad news from another part of Sumatra, Aceh. A Sumatran baby elephant (Elephas Maximus Sumatrensis) was reported dead after two days of undergoing medical treatment at the Saree Elephant Training Center (PLG), Aceh Besar. Previously, the baby elephant was trapped by poachers who prey on the endangered species. The one-year-old-Sumatran Elephant baby died during medical treatment, with its trunk almost broken due to the trap.