Sumatran Elephant Elephas maximus sumatranus

Sumatran Elephant Elephas maximus sumatranus

Critically Endangered

Population: 2,400 – 2,800

The Sumatran elephant is a critically endangered subspecies of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), confined to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. As one of the world’s largest land mammals, they play a vital role in their ecosystem as keystone species, facilitating seed dispersal and maintaining forest biodiversity. Tragically, their population has been reduced by more than 80% in the last 75 years due to palm oil deforestation and poaching.

With fewer than 2,400 individuals estimated to remain in the wild, the Sumatran elephant is at immediate risk of extinction. Protect their future by boycotting palm oil products and advocating for stronger conservation efforts. Use your voice and wallet as weapons. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

While Sumatra is home to several of the country’s largest national parks, many areas in these parks are destroyed—illegally—to produce palm oil. The elephant population across the island is crashing, with far fewer than 3,000 surviving, as herds are left homeless, harassed and killed due to intense conflict with people over shrinking habitat. Their decline is closely linked to the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations, illegal logging, and human-wildlife conflicts.

The Asian Elephant is one of the last few mega-herbivores (i.e. plant-eating mammals that reach an adult body weight in excess of 1,000 kg) still extant on earth (Owen-Smith, 1988). Being hindgut fermenters with relatively poor digestive efficiency (Dumonceaux 2006), elephants must consume large quantities of food per day to meet energy requirements. The lack of reliable population estimates across most of the Asian elephant range presents a considerable challenge to detecting such declines.

Nevertheless, from what is known about trends in habitat loss and other threats including poaching, an overall population decline of at least 50% since 1945 over the last three generations (estimated to be 75 years, based on a generation time estimated to be 25 years) seems realistic. The Sumatran subspecies is listed as Critically Endangered

Appearance and Behaviour

Sumatran elephants are smaller than their mainland Asian relatives, with males standing between 2 and 3.2 metres tall and weighing up to 5,000 kilograms. Their lighter grey skin often features depigmented patches on the ears and trunk, which are particularly prominent in this subspecies. These elephants have larger ears relative to other Asian elephants, an adaptation that helps them regulate body temperature in Sumatra’s tropical climate (Nurcahyo et al., 2023).

An anatomical distinction of Sumatran elephants is their 20 pairs of ribs—one more than other Asian elephant subspecies. Male elephants typically develop long tusks, while females either lack visible tusks or have small, rudimentary ones. Their physical adaptations and behaviours are crucial for surviving in dense, tropical forests and swamps, where they navigate their environment with remarkable dexterity.

Geographical Range

Historically, Sumatran elephants roamed throughout the island’s lowland rainforests, peat swamps, and grasslands. Today, their habitat has been reduced to just a fraction of its original range, with an estimated 69% of suitable habitat lost between 1985 and 2009 (Hedges et al., 2020). Their remaining populations are concentrated in fragmented forest patches in the provinces of Aceh, Riau, Lampung, and North Sumatra.

The expansion of palm oil plantations is a primary driver of habitat destruction, with millions of hectares of forest cleared to meet global demand. Fragmented habitats force elephants into smaller areas, increasing the risk of inbreeding, resource competition, and conflict with humans (Setiawan et al., 2019).

Population Status

The Sumatran elephant population is estimated to be between 2,400 and 2,800 individuals, down from tens of thousands just decades ago. This decline represents the loss of hundreds of elephants annually due to habitat destruction, poaching, and conflict (Hedges et al., 2020). If current trends continue, the species could face extinction within 30 years.

Diet

Sumatran elephants are herbivorous and consume over 200 plant species, including grasses, fruits, leaves, bark, and roots. They consume up to 150 kilograms of vegetation daily, playing a critical role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration. Elephants forage over large areas, often moving between different forest types to meet their dietary needs (Nurcahyo et al., 2023).

Reproduction and Mating

Female Sumatran elephants have a gestation period of approximately 22 months, the longest of any land mammal. They typically give birth to a single calf every four to five years. Calves weigh 80–120 kilograms at birth and are highly dependent on their mothers for the first two years of life. These slow reproductive rates make population recovery challenging, particularly in the face of ongoing threats (Setiawan et al., 2019).

Threats

Sumatran elephants are protected under Indonesian law, but enforcement is often weak. Conservation efforts focus on habitat restoration, anti-poaching patrols, and mitigating human-elephant conflicts. Protected areas, such as Gunung Leuser and Way Kambas National Parks, are crucial for the survival of remaining populations. However, deforestation within these protected areas remains a significant challenge (Hedges et al., 2020).

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

• Palm oil deforestation: The rapid conversion of forests into palm oil plantations has destroyed large portions of the elephants’ habitat. Between 1985 and 2009, Sumatra lost nearly half its forest cover (Hedges et al., 2020).
• Human-Elephant Conflict: As elephants venture into agricultural areas, they are often perceived as pests. This results in retaliatory killings, which account for significant population losses each year (Nurcahyo et al., 2023).
• Poaching: Male elephants are heavily targeted for their ivory, which is illegally traded. Despite national protections, poaching continues to drive population declines (Setiawan et al., 2019).
• Climate Change: Rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns and extreme weather events threaten the availability of food and water resources, further stressing elephant populations (Nurcahyo et al., 2023).

Take Action!

Protect the Sumatran elephant by boycotting palm oil products, supporting reforestation initiatives, and advocating for stricter wildlife protection laws. Every purchase matters. Fight for their survival with #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife.

Spotlight on Sumatran Elephants – Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Without direct intervention in the national parks the Orangutans along with other forest-dependant wildlife- like the Sumatran Tigers and Elephants will become progressively scarcer until their populations are no longer viable. Spotlight Sumatra – The Final Chapter by Craig Jones

Help the organisations helping these beautiful animals

Sumatran Elephant Conservation Initiative e.V.

Way Kambas National Park Sumatra

Further Information

Gopala, A., Hadian, O., Sunarto, ., Sitompul, A., Williams, A., Leimgruber, P., Chambliss, S.E. & Gunaryadi, D. 2011. Elephas maximus ssp. sumatranus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T199856A9129626. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T199856A9129626.en. Downloaded on 19 January 2021

Nurcahyo, A., et al. (2023). The movement pattern and home range of Sumatran elephants in the Mila-Tangse landscape. ResearchGate. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369190606

Setiawan, I., et al. (2019). Recent observations of Sumatran elephants in Sembilang National Park, South Sumatra. Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 31(2), 299–308. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334776259

BBC Earth. (2020). Sumatran Elephant: Project Hope. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/28hWyXFGHPhm20nTVG4pT0n/sumatran-elephant

Wikipedia contributors. (2023). Sumatran elephant. In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatran_elephant

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