Sumatran elephants have been listed as a "critically endangered" species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2011, head of the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA), Heru Sutmatoro, said in Pekanbaru on Saturday.
"The baby male elephant (born Thursday) is a calf of a mother elephant Ria (45 years old). The morphometry results state that the elephant baby was born with a height of 86 cm, a body length of 102 cm, a body circumference of 103 cm, and weight of 84 kg," he informed.
The birth process was normal and both the mother and her calf are in a healthy condition, he said. Nevertheless, the medical team of Riau BBKSDA will keep monitoring their health, he said.
The calf is Ria's fourth offspring after Tesso, Tino, and Harmoni Rimbo, he said.
"We have recorded that there were four births of elephant babies from tamed elephants (Ria and Lisa) in the last five years," he said.
At the end of 2020, Lisa gave birth to a male elephant, which was named Ryu, he said.
Related news: Veterinarian team treats wounded female Sumatran elephant in East Aceh
The latest birth at the Elephants Flying Squad of the Tesso Nilo National Park has strengthened the park's status as an important habitat contributing to increasing the population of Sumatran elephants, he added.
According to him, the newborn elephant has ignited optimism at Tesso Nilo National Park, a center for Sumatran elephant conservation in Riau.
"Now, the total number of elephants at TNTN is ten: four adults, two teens, and four calves," Sutmatoro informed.
The Indonesian government, through the Ministerial Regulation No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018, has designated the Sumatran elephant as a protected species.
Related news: More clusters of Sumatran elephant rehab centers required: Walhi
Translator: Frislidia, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
