What's Killing Sumatra's Elephants? The Fight to Save a Critically Endangered Species

Ekhbary News Agency | 2026-05-12T14:30:00Z

Bengkulu, Indonesia — Authorities are investigating the recent deaths of a mother elephant and her calf, found side-by-side in Indonesia's Bengkulu province with their tusks intact. While poachers are considered unlikely, conservationists argue that the shrinking habitat is the most probable cause, a sentiment echoed by the fact that seven wild elephants have reportedly died in the area since 2018.

Habitat Loss Fuels Conflict

The Sumatran elephant population in Bengkulu's Seblat district, once thriving, has been critically endangered since 2011 due to poaching and habitat destruction driven by farming and palm oil plantations. Wildlife conservationists report a further drastic decline; Ali Akbar of Kanopi Hijau Indonesia stated, "In 2010, its population was still at an average of 100-150 individuals. Today, the total population in Seblat Landscape is not more than 50, making it very critical." This habitat encroachment increasingly leads to human-elephant conflict, with animals entering farmlands and settlements. Professor Burhanuddin Masyud estimates that at least 1,585 hectares of elephant habitat were lost between January 2024 and October 2025.

Monitoring and Conservation Efforts

To combat this crisis, the Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has deployed a thermal-imaging drone to monitor the Seblat area. Agung Nugroho, head of the BKSDA, explained the initiative aims to assess elephant populations and habitats to implement protection strategies, including "short-term habitat protection through encroachment control and long-term through improved governance." The drone surveillance has already identified a group of 17 elephants, including four calves, offering a glimmer of hope for the species' genetic sustainability. However, experts like Wahdi Azmi stress that monitoring alone is insufficient if the root causes are not addressed.