Elephant maximus sumatranus

Sumatran Elephant (Elephant maximus sumatranus) is one of three subspecies of Asian elephant. Subspecies of the Asian Elephant (Elephant maximus) in addition to the Sumatran Elephant Asian Elephant (Elephant maximus maximus) found in Sri Lanka and the Indian Elephant (Elephant maximus indicus) are found in Southeast Asia and India. Sumatran Elephant (Elephant maximus sumatranus) that have a large appetite (up to 150 kg a day) can be found on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. The animal was also designated as a Fauna Identification of Lampung Province.

Sumatran Elephant (Elephant maximus sumatranus) berhabitat only on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Its population is spread across seven provinces of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, North Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, Bengkulu, South Sumatra and Lampung. Despite the widespread distribution of their habitat was declining drastically. Therefore UICN Redlist classify this large animal in the Endangered category since 1996.

The characteristics of Sumatran elephants

Sumatran elephants in general have more body fat characteristics and width. At the end of the trunk has a lip. Unlike the African elephant, Sumatran elephants have five nails on the front foot and four nails on the hind legs. Sumatran elephants reach adult weight 3.500-5000 pounds, smaller than African elephants.

The average adult Sumatran elephants in need of food daily to 150 pounds and 180 liters of water. Of that amount, only about 40% are able to be absorbed by the digestive. To satisfy this appetite Sumatran elephants to travel up to 20 miles per day. With ever-diminishing forests from illegal logging and forest fires, do not be surprised if your appetite and trunked star cruising is often a conflict with humans.

As other species of Asian elephants, Sumatran elephants sleep standing up. During sleep, his ears always dikipas-Fan. He was able to detect the presence of water sources within a radius of 5 kilometers. Sumatran elephants, having a wedding at the age of 10-12 years. And will give birth to a child four years with the period containing up to 22 months.
Sumatran Elephant Population and Conservation

Sumatran Elephant (Elephant maximus sumatranus) categorized under the Endangered by UICN Redlist. meanwhile CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Fauna and Flora / Fauna Convention on International Trade and Plant) has categorized the Sumatran elephant in Appendix I.

Based on a survey conducted in 2007, the population of these animals live throughout the island of Sumatra 2400-2800 tails. Its population is spread across seven provinces of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, North Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, Bengkulu, South Sumatra and Lampung. Even believed since 2007 has disappeared from the National Park Bukit Twelve.

Decreased population of elephants in the wild due to poaching but also due to the decreasing area of ​​elephant habitat. Reduction in the real elephant habitat is due to the changing habitat of Sumatran elephants into large-scale monoculture plantations (oil palm, rubber, cocoa) which has been displacing habitat for Sumatran elephants.

In addition, it has also made an elephant stuck in small blocks of forest that is not enough to sustain the life of an elephant for the long term, on the other hand it is also a catalyst for conflict between humans and elephants.

The fate of Sumatran elephants is indeed not much different from the Sumatran tiger, Sumatran Forests Goat or Sumatran rhino. Pity.

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia. Phylum: Chordata. Class: mammals. Order: Proboscidea. Family: Elephantidae. Genus: Elephas Species: Elepant maximus. Upaspesies: Elephant maximus sumatranus