TEMPO.CO, Cisarua - Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan on Thursday named the newborn Sumatran elephant at Taman Safari Indonesia (Indonesian Safari Park – TSI) ‘Raja.’ The baby elephant was born on Thursday, October 3, adding to the population of elephants in the world’s largest and most successful elephant conservation location.
The minister named him Raja, derived from the area Rajabasa in Lampung, the original habitat of the elephant.
The total number of Sumatran elephants in Indonesian conservation territories is currently 482 elephants. As many as 95 are located at TSI Bogor, Prigen and Bali, with a total number of 35 births.
TSI Bogor veterinarian Retno Sudarwati said the breeding of Sumatran elephants in Indonesian conservation areas is considered the most successful worldwide. Since the 1960s, even the United States has seen only 22 elephant births.
ANWAR SISWADI