Sumatran Elephant
Critically Endangered
Population
The current population estimate is between 2,400 to 2,800 wild animals
Size
The current population estimate is between 2,400 to 2,800 wild animals
Weight
The current population estimate is between 2,400 to 2,800 wild animals
Countries
Indonesia
Distribution
The species is distributed all throughout the island of Sumatra with 25 distinct population fragments existing
Description
The Sumatran Elephant is the smallest of all elephants and unlike the larger elephants, the highest point is on the head. The species often has no tusks or very short tusks unlike other elephant species.
Quick Facts
Key behaviour of the Sumatran Elephant includes:
- The species sings duets for bonding and mating
- The species has polygynous relationships due to the limited number of individuals remaining
- The species breeds around every 2 years which is considerably shorter than most gibbons
The diet of the Sumatran Elephant includes:
- Grasses
- Leaves
- Shoots
- Bark
- Fruits
- Nuts
- Seeds
The Sumatran Elephant’s primary habitat is in lush forests and jungles. These habitats are usually shared with the Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Rhinoceros and Orangutans.
The main threats that face the Sumatran Elephant are:
- Loss of habitat – over 85% of the animals habitat has been impacted by humans
- Poaching
- Population fragmentation
Conservation Efforts
There are numerous efforts in place to help conserve the Sumatran Elephant population. Anti-poaching teams, extra effort in monitoring illegal logging and trying to put pressure on the palm plantation and slash and burn agriculture within the island of Sumatra are all very important initiatives. The species is aided by the fact it shares habitats with other popular critically endangered animals.
