Indonesia Welcomes Birth of Sumatran Elephant Calf in Tesso Nilo - Tempo.co English
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is welcoming the birth of a male Sumatran elephant calf (Elephas maximus sumatranus) to a mother named Lisa in Tesso Nilo National Park (TNTN), Pelalawan Regency, Riau, on Monday, September 28.
In a statement shared by the country's Ministry of Forestry received in Jakarta on Tuesday, Heru Sutmantoro, Head of the Tesso Nilo National Park Office, explained that this birth was Lisa's sixth and was part of the crucial mission to support the sustainability of the Sumatran elephant population.
"The calf was born from Lisa's mating with a wild elephant, demonstrating a reproductive interaction between the captive elephant and the wild elephant population in the Tesso Nilo National Park area," he said.
Intensive monitoring of Lisa has been carried out by a joint team consisting of mahouts (elephant handlers), veterinarians, and animal caretakers since Sunday, September 27. The monitoring was initiated after the team observed several clinical signs of impending labor, including hardening of the mammary glands and increased restlessness compared to her normal condition.
The birth took place on Monday at 7:00 p.m. WIB (Western Indonesian Time), when Lisa successfully delivered a male elephant calf safely and independently at the Elephant Flying Squad (EFS) Camp in the national park. Approximately 20 minutes after birth, the calf demonstrated good reflexes and physical strength, being able to stand upright and support itself.
Currently, the animal medical team and mahouts are conducting 24-hour close surveillance to monitor the initial nutritional intake (breast milk intake) and ensure the physical condition of the mother and calf remains stable and safe.
The Tesso Nilo National Park Office extends deep appreciation to all field teams, mahouts, and medical personnel who remained on standby to oversee the smooth progress of this birth.
This birth is expected to serve as a positive momentum to strengthen Sumatran elephant conservation efforts while raising public awareness about the importance of protecting their habitat and the sustainability of the Sumatran elephant population in the wild.
