Sumatran Elephants Towards Extinction

Conservation organizations World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said Sumatran elephant conservation status is now "critically endangered" from "endangered". This assessment is based on the extinction of half the elephant population and 70 percent loss of habitat due to be converted into plantations and agricultural land.

"Sumatran elephants joined the list of endangered species from Indonesia, following the Sumatran orangutan, Javan rhino, Sumatran rhino, and Sumatran tigers," said WWF's Global Species Programme Director Carlos Drews in a press release Tuesday (24/01/2012).

He hoped the Indonesian government to take immediate effective conservation measures to prevent the animals of this remarkable species. One was a moratorium on conversion of elephant habitat.

Previously, The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the subspecies of Sumatran elephants are (Elephas maximus sumatranus) as "endangered" in the Red List of Threatened Species.

It is estimated there are only 2,400 to 2,800 elephants are left in the wild. This number has declined about 50 percent of the estimated population in 1985. The scientists said that if this trend continues, the elephant in the wild could be extinct in less than 30 years.

According to the IUCN Red List, although the elephant as a species has been protected by law in Indonesia, 85 percent of its habitat is located outside the protected areas and outside of the protection system that could potentially be converted to agriculture and other purposes.

Sumatra is the only habitat of Asian elephants are experiencing the fastest deforestation rate than India and Sri Lanka. In the past 25 years, Sumatra lost more than two-thirds of lowland forests. Though this region into the most suitable habitat for elephants.

"Forest concession holders, such as pulp, paper and palm oil industries, has a legal and ethical obligation to protect endangered species that live in their concession," said Anwar Purwoto of WWF Indonesia. *** [MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3774]