Indonesia Allowing Sumatran Elephants To Become Extinct, Deforestation And Cruelty To Blame
The Sumatran elephant may very well be extinct in the next 30 years if officials at the Indonesian island of Sumatra don’t do something to stop the deforestation of the area.
The elephant was recently named as a “critically endangered” species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature with numbers dropping from 5,000 in 1985 to somewhere between 2,400 and 2,800 today.
Populations for the elephant have dwindled in recent years as their habitat is destroyed in the name of industrial applications. Trees have been cut down and uproots to make timber, palm oil, pulp and other productions.
Expounding the issue is the fact that Sumatra has some of the most rich elephant populations in the world behind only India and Sri Lanka. The forested area is also home to orangutans, rhinos and tigers all of which are being hurt by deforestation in the area.
In an urgent statement on Tuesday the World Wildlife Foundation wrote:
“The Sumatran elephant joins a growing list of Indonesian species that are critically endangered.” The group then added “Unless urgent and effective conservation action is taken these magnificent animals are likely to go extinct within our lifetime.”
Making matters worse is that elephants have begun walking into populated areas in search of food, often destroying crops and damaging villages which has led to some of the animals being shot or poisoned with cyanide-laced fruit. Others are killed by poachers who are after their expensive ivory tusks.
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