Healthy Sumatran Elephant Calf Born in South Sumatra on Independence Day
- 19 Agt 2026 07:59 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Poin Utama
- A healthy female Sumatran elephant calf was born at the Padang Sugihan Elephant Conservation Center in South Sumatra on August 17, Indonesia’s Independence Day.
- BKSDA South Sumatra is providing 24-hour monitoring, shade, water, and nutritional support to ensure the health of the newborn calf and its mother, Lestari.
RRI.CO.ID, Palembang - Marking a major milestone for endangered wildlife conservation on the 81st anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day, a healthy female Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) calf was born at the Jalur 21 Padang Sugihan Elephant Conservation Center (PKG) in South Sumatra on Monday morning, August 17, 2026.
Delivered by a mother named Lestari and fathered by Gapula, the calf was born under the close care of medical personnel and mahout Sugito between 6.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. local time. Shortly after birth, the calf successfully stood upright and began nursing normally.
Conservation authorities reaffirmed that successful births within ex-situ management centers reflect the government's sustained commitment to protecting critically endangered Sumatran elephants. Head of the South Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) Daniwari Widiyanto highlighted the significance of the birth occurring on National Independence Day.
"This event is a deeply meaningful gift from nature for protected wildlife conservation efforts in Indonesia, particularly on the historic occasion of Independence Day," said Daniwari in Palembang on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, as quoted on the ministry's official website.
He noted that field officers are taking all necessary operational steps to guarantee the long-term well-being of the mother and newborn calf. BKSDA medical teams have ensured constant water supply, introduced supplemental fruit nutrition and instituted 24/7 round-the-clock monitoring to track physical responses and physiological health in accordance with captive animal care standards
"Given the current extreme heat conditions in the open-air area of PKG Jalur 21, the South Sumatra BKSDA medical team immediately conducted specialized intervention, officers prepared adequate shelter and ensured sufficient drinking water and bathing facilities to maintain the body temperature and endurance of the mother and calf post-birth," Daniwari added. ***
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