Jakarta/New Delhi: Indonesia is set to strengthen its wildlife health and conservation facilities through a partnership between the country’s Forestry Ministry, Vantara and Indonesian wildlife organisation PT Fauna Land Group. The programme comes as the country faces habitat loss and a shrinking range for some of its most threatened species, including the Sumatran elephant.
The upgraded facility will support 62 Sumatran elephants under human care and nearly 100 wild Sumatran elephants in the surrounding area. A recent study estimated its elephant population at between 144 and 225 animals, while earlier DNA-based research by the Wildlife Conservation Society estimated 247 elephants in the park in 2010. The Way Kambas Elephant Hospital will now be upgraded into an Elephant Treatment and Care Centre with new equipment, tools and technologies. Way Kambas is an important habitat for the species.
Why Indonesia needs stronger field support
Research published by its National Research and Innovation Agency says the country accounts for about 12% of the world’s mammals, 16% of reptiles, 17% of birds, 25% of fish and 10% of plants, despite covering only about 1.3% of the earth’s land area. Indonesia is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries.
