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Sumatran elephant
The Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. In 2011, IUCN upgraded the conservation status of the Sumatran elephant from endangered to critically endangered in its Red List as the population had declined by at least 80% during the past three generations, estimated to be about 75 years. The subspecies is preeminently threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, and poaching; over 69% of potential elephant habitat has been lost within the last 25 years. Much of the remaining forest cover is in blocks smaller than 250 km2 (97 sq mi), which are too small to contain viable elephant populations.
The Asian elephant has a convex or level back is and the highest body point on the head. The tip of its trunk has one finger-like process. Females are usually smaller than males, and have short or no tusks. The Sumatran elephant has 20 pairs of ribs, reaches a shoulder height of between 2 and 3.2 m (6 ft 7 in and 10 ft 6 in) and weighs between 2,000 and 4,000 kg (4,400 and 8,800 lb). Its skin colour is lighter than of the Sri Lankan elephant and the Indian elephant even with the least depigmentation.
The Sumatran elephant was once widespread on Sumatra, and the Riau Province probably had the largest elephant population on the island with over 1,600 individuals in the 1980s. In 1985, an island-wide rapid survey suggested that between 2,800 and 4,800 elephants lived in all eight mainland provinces of Sumatra in 44 units. Twelve of them lived in Lampung Province, where only three populations were extant in 2002 according to surveys carried out between September 2000 and March 2002. The population in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park was estimated at 498 individuals, while the population in Way Kambas National Park was estimated at 180 individuals. The third population in Gunung Rindingan–Way Waya complex was considered to be too small to be viable over the long-term.
By 2008, elephants had become locally extinct in 23 of the 43 ranges identified in Sumatra in 1985, indicating a very significant decline of the Sumatran elephant population up to that time. By 2008, the elephant was locally extinct in West Sumatra Province and at risk of being lost from North Sumatra Province too. In Riau Province, only about 350 elephants survived across nine separate ranges.
As of 2007[update], the population of Sumatran elephants is estimated to be 2,400–2,800 wild individuals, excluding elephants in camps, in 25 fragmented populations across the island. More than 85% of their habitat is outside of protected areas.
In Aceh, radio-collared Sumatran elephant clans preferred areas in dense natural forests in river and mountain valleys at elevation below 200 m (660 ft); from there, they moved into heterogenous forests and foraged near human settlements mainly by night.
Female elephants stop reproducing after 60 years of age.[citation needed] The maximum longevity in the wild is around 60 years. Female captive elephants have survived until 75 years while males have survived 60 years. They give birth mostly at night, which lasts about 10 seconds. A healthy calf is usually able to stand up on its own after 30 minutes.
Female elephants hit their growth plateau at a younger age and develop faster than male elephants, while male elephants grow to larger size and continue to grow as they age.
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Sumatran elephant AI simulator
(@Sumatran elephant_simulator)
Sumatran elephant
The Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. In 2011, IUCN upgraded the conservation status of the Sumatran elephant from endangered to critically endangered in its Red List as the population had declined by at least 80% during the past three generations, estimated to be about 75 years. The subspecies is preeminently threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, and poaching; over 69% of potential elephant habitat has been lost within the last 25 years. Much of the remaining forest cover is in blocks smaller than 250 km2 (97 sq mi), which are too small to contain viable elephant populations.
The Asian elephant has a convex or level back is and the highest body point on the head. The tip of its trunk has one finger-like process. Females are usually smaller than males, and have short or no tusks. The Sumatran elephant has 20 pairs of ribs, reaches a shoulder height of between 2 and 3.2 m (6 ft 7 in and 10 ft 6 in) and weighs between 2,000 and 4,000 kg (4,400 and 8,800 lb). Its skin colour is lighter than of the Sri Lankan elephant and the Indian elephant even with the least depigmentation.
The Sumatran elephant was once widespread on Sumatra, and the Riau Province probably had the largest elephant population on the island with over 1,600 individuals in the 1980s. In 1985, an island-wide rapid survey suggested that between 2,800 and 4,800 elephants lived in all eight mainland provinces of Sumatra in 44 units. Twelve of them lived in Lampung Province, where only three populations were extant in 2002 according to surveys carried out between September 2000 and March 2002. The population in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park was estimated at 498 individuals, while the population in Way Kambas National Park was estimated at 180 individuals. The third population in Gunung Rindingan–Way Waya complex was considered to be too small to be viable over the long-term.
By 2008, elephants had become locally extinct in 23 of the 43 ranges identified in Sumatra in 1985, indicating a very significant decline of the Sumatran elephant population up to that time. By 2008, the elephant was locally extinct in West Sumatra Province and at risk of being lost from North Sumatra Province too. In Riau Province, only about 350 elephants survived across nine separate ranges.
As of 2007[update], the population of Sumatran elephants is estimated to be 2,400–2,800 wild individuals, excluding elephants in camps, in 25 fragmented populations across the island. More than 85% of their habitat is outside of protected areas.
In Aceh, radio-collared Sumatran elephant clans preferred areas in dense natural forests in river and mountain valleys at elevation below 200 m (660 ft); from there, they moved into heterogenous forests and foraged near human settlements mainly by night.
Female elephants stop reproducing after 60 years of age.[citation needed] The maximum longevity in the wild is around 60 years. Female captive elephants have survived until 75 years while males have survived 60 years. They give birth mostly at night, which lasts about 10 seconds. A healthy calf is usually able to stand up on its own after 30 minutes.
Female elephants hit their growth plateau at a younger age and develop faster than male elephants, while male elephants grow to larger size and continue to grow as they age.