Habitat loss and fragmentation is threatening the survival of many species across the world. Combine this with unsustainable illegal poaching, and much of Sumatra's wildlife, including elephants, is under threat of extinction.

The Asian Elephant has disappeared from approximately 95% of its former range, which, some 6,000 years ago, extended across the Indian sub-continent to South-East Asia and China. The main threats to Asian Elephants are the loss and fragmentation of forest habitat and illegal killing, either by poachers or in retaliation to conflict with farmers.

Habitat Loss & Fragmentation
Loss and fragmentation of habitat is perhaps the most important factor affecting Asian Elephants in the wild. This is mainly driven by the pressures of human development, which has led to the clearing and conversion of forest habitat. Expanding populations, as well as developing economic markets for products such as oil palm, rubber and sugar cane, are replacing large tracts of tropical rainforest.

The resultant habitat fragmentation has a major impact on elephants, separating populations and leading to low breeding success. In Sumatra, the remaining elephants are now separated into more than  30 to 40 distinct populations with none larger than 500 animals, and some with less than 50. However, some of this data is based on estimates that have not been rigorously tested and needs review; for instance, a 2002 robust and detailed field study of elephants in Lampung Province in southern Sumatra showed that only three of the previously reported 12 populations were extant and only two of these contained substantial elephant numbers.

While many of the forests occurring in this program site have been protected against conversion to oil palm or pulp wood plantations, illegal logging and clearance by encroaching settlers still threatens forest habitat.

Human-elephant Conflict
The replacement of rainforest habitat with agriculture has led to conflict between elephants and humans. As their habitat becomes fragmented and degraded, elephants come into more frequent contact with domestic and commercial plantations and farms. Annually, elephants have been reported to damage millions of dollars worth of agricultural crops and hundreds of people are killed. This can then also lead to elephants being killed in retaliation.

Adding to this, domestic crops can also be more palatable to elephants than their wild forage, leading them to raid crops even when they have other alternatives.

Trade
Continuing demand for ivory, and to a lesser degree elephant parts for medicine, maintains the market value of an elephant, attracting illegal poachers and traders to valuable tuskers. Animals within the parks are also at risk from the loss of this habitat and from poaching for their meat or bones.

Field Partner

Fauna & Flora International (FFI) is the world's longest established international conservation body, founded over 100 years ago. FFI focuses on solutions that are sustainable, are based on sound science and take account of human needs. Zoos Victoria has been supporting FFI's work in Sumatra to protect part of the Gunung Leuser National Park since 2002. By working with local communities and government agencies, FFI is building skills and capacity to protect this important habitat in the future.