[Kabar-indonesia] Tempo: Elephants on the Edge [+Pachyderms on Patrol]

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

3 Tempo Magazine Reports (+Reuters): 

- Elephants on the Edge 

- Pachyderms on Patrol 

- The Ballad of the Mahout 

- Controversial Thai elephants 
  land in Australia

Tempo Magazine
No. 48/VI
August 01 - 07, 2006 

Environment 

Elephants on the Edge 

Rampant development of palm oil plantations backs elephants 
into a corner and divides them into small groups. 

THE brilliant lights enliven Petersham House, an historic building on 
London's outskirts. As the sun sets, noble guests -- the aristocracy and Hollywood 
stars -- start arriving at the Elephant Family headquarters. The party beat 
becomes increasingly noticeable as waiters continuously offer the special 
menu, organically grown vegetarian dishes concocted a la India and British 
Raj. 

The guest of honor is Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall. 
There is only one item on the agenda: raising funds dedicated to saving Asian 
elephants. In addition to British and Indian nobles, the event was also 
attended 
by Hollywood stars such as Angelica Houston, Rob Lowe, and Goldie Hawn. 
Among the world's jet set is Indonesian businessman Setiawan Djody. What 
is afoot? 

Djody says he came at the invitation of Mark Shand, one of the leaders of the 
Elephant Family, a fundraising organization to save Asian elephants. "Mark 
loves Indonesia so much," he says. Shand lived in Bali from 1970 to the 1980s. 
"We 
are friends and are active in flora and fauna protection," says Djody to 
Tempo by international telephone line. 

A fantastic party. They were successful in raising £500,000 to reforest 
elephant habitats in Indonesia, India, and Thailand. 

Thousands of kilometers from London, far from the hustle and bustle of a 
city, at the Gunung Leuser National Park, Tangkahan, North Sumatra, Sudiyono is 
caressing Agustin, the elephant he trains. Agustin is a smart elephant that he 
usually takes on patrols to care for the elephant habitat that is now facing 
attacks by illegal loggers. It is to this forest that some of the funds from 
Petersham House will flow. Elephant Family funds several save-the-elephant 
projects in Tangkahan, Aras Napal (both in North Sumatra), and Saree (Aceh). "Today 
there are only 3,500 Sumatran elephants," note Elephant Family officers in 
their website. 

The big creatures are endangered. Their homes, the primary and secondary 
forests of Sumatra, are continuously under attack by illegal loggers and palm oil 
plantations. In South Sumatra, for example, from a total of 3.7 million 
hectares, 60 percent has been damaged. Elephants need a roaming area of 165 square 
kilometers in primary forests and 60 square kilometers in secondary forests. 

Every year, elephants will also travel relatively the same route. When the 
forests-that are the elephants' routes-are transformed into palm oil 
plantations, there will be conflicts between the elephants and the people. That is the 
case with Oloan Hasibuan. He has run out of ideas on how to deal with the herd 
of elephants that diligently visits the plantation of PT PD Pati, Muko-Muko 
subdistrict, Bengkulu, where he works. Within the past three months alone, they 
have come four times. Hundreds of saplings were destroyed in a matter of hours. 

Oloan was furious at the 3.5-ton animals. He and his boss then asked the 
Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) to drive them away. However, there was nothing 
much that they could do. With rifles in hand, it was not as if they could kill 
the elephants. "They're worried that they'll be blamed," said Oloan. The Brimob 
troops could only rely on tear gas and shots into the air to chase the wild 
pachyderms away. It is obviously an expensive way and does not solve the 
problem. The elephants will keep coming back. 

According to Wahdi Azmi, a save-the-elephant activist from Fauna & Flora 
International (FFI), the narrowing of the Sumatran elephant habitats is becoming 
serious. Besides, as a result of rampant palm oil plantation development, the 
herd of elephants is divided into several small groups. "Two-thirds are now 
living outside the reservation," said Wahdi, sadly. 

Director of Conservation of Biodiversity at the Department of Forestry, Adi 
Susmianto, confirmed Wahdi's charges. "We (Directorate General of Nature 
Protection and Conservation) become victims of the government's conflicting 
policies. On the one hand we're ordered to preserve the elephants, but on the other, 
we're pestered by other policies," he said. 

The guidelines from the Department of Forestry are actually clear. Government 
Regulation No. 34/2002 on Forest Arrangement and the Plan Formulation on 
Forest Management, Forest Utilization, and Forest Area Utilization, clearly 
forbids converting forests into plantations. However, such guidelines in the field 
are impotent. 

Consequently, conflicts between elephants and plantation owners break out 
everywhere. In Riau, based on World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia's records, 
since 2000, 45 elephants died, shot and poisoned. Elephants, on the other hand, 
killed 16 people. In addition, 201 elephants had to be captured and 45 of them 
died afterwards. "Elephants must compete with humans for their living space," 
said Nazir Foead, Director of Program Species at WWF Indonesia. 

In Bengkulu the conflict is not as severe as in Riau. No elephants have been 
poisoned yet. "But it's just a matter of time," said Aswin Bangun, Coordinator 
of the Seblat Elephant Training Center (PLG), Bengkulu. Two weeks ago Tempo 
went on patrol in the area on an elephant. Illegal loggers were freely roaming 
around (see Elephant Police on Patrol). 

There is indeed no precise data on Sumatran elephant population and its 
annual decrease. According to Wahdi, it is estimated at between 2,800 and 4,800. 
Regarding its decrease per year, the estimated elephant population in Riau can 
be used as a basis. In 1999, according to WWF Indonesia, there were 709. Four 
years later, it has dwindled to between 353 and 431. 

There are many new ways to kill elephants. One is to take advantage of the 
conflict between elephants and man. Using the excuse that elephant attacks 
threaten the safety of a village, some elephants are killed. Wahdi suspects that 
many ivory hunters deliberately come to conflict areas and pretend to offer help 
to solve the elephant problem. In the end, the elephants are killed and their 
tusks removed. "But poachers are not the root of the problem. The root of the 
problem is still the annexation of the elephants' habitat," said Nazir. 

As a solution, Wahdi suggests the need for tightly protected conservation 
areas for elephants and other animals. The requirements are, besides a 
well-maintained forest condition, the surface area must also be adequate. Such forests 
can still be found in Aceh, North Sumatra, Riau, Bengkulu, and Lampung. In 
response to the suggestion, the government is planning to expand the Tesso Nilo 
National Park in Riau from 38,000 hectares to 100,000 hectares. The problem is, 
the expansion will oust 2,000 illegal loggers. This is the crux of the matter. 

If such an area can be realized, Oloan will be at ease, and the elephants 
will be pleased. -- Sapto Pradityo (Seblat, Bengkulu), Deddy Sinaga 

The Range of Sumatran Elephants 

In 1931 there were 48 elephant habitats in Sumatra. Today there are only 38 
locations. The elephant population has dropped to a range of 2,800-4,800. 

Characteristics 

The smallest of the three Asian elephant types (India and Sri Lanka) u Male 
elephant's tusks are longer than the female's u Life expectancy of 70 years u 
Elephants need 165 sq/km of primary forest and 60 sq/km of secondary forest u 
Elephants eat 150-175 kg of greenery a day 
Classification 

Kingdom: Animalia 
Phylum: Chordata 
Class: Mammalia 
Order:Proboscidea 
Family: Elephantidae 
Genus: Elephas 
Species: Maximus 
 
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Tempo Magazine
No. 48/VI
August 01 - 07, 2006 

Environment 

Pachyderms on Patrol 

The elephant police succeed in suppressing the level of deforestation 
in areas where elephants live, but cannot protect areas outside. 

THE scorching sun beat down. Mori didn't seem much bothered. Four sacks of 
supplies weighing dozens of kilograms on its back seemed light as a feather. 
That day, Mori, Eva, and Sari-three of the 23 Sumatran elephants at the Elephant 
Training Center (PLG) in Seblat, Bengkulu-were starting out to patrol the 
activities of illegal loggers. An exhausting mission, entailing going up and down 
the mountains, circling a 6,865-hectare forest. 

Three mahouts and five policemen were ready since morning. Some carried 
machetes, walkie-talkies, and global positioning system-based equipment. Some were 
only carrying sticks to shepherd the elephants. When the sun was at its peak, 
the three elephants set out, leaving the PLG Seblat command post. Each was 
carrying supplies for 10 days and three people on their backs. I was riding Mori, 
handled by Rasyidin, a former senior mahout turned forest policeman. 

Although sitting with a mahout with 10 years' experience, for people who have 
never ridden an elephant like me-even at a zoo-riding the 2.5-ton mammal is a 
daunting experience. Right from the off I started imagining Mori running 
amok. "Relax. Mori seldom misbehaves," said Rasyidin. Perhaps he saw the tension 
on my face. Still, riding an elephant is not the same as riding a 
horse-something I did at a zoo. I often slipped down and had difficulty with my balance, 
especially when Mori descended the steep slope of the Seblat River. My actions 
brought smiles to the mahout. 

The searing sun and my derriere that was beginning to feel sore from sitting 
precisely on the chain that tied the elephant were briefly forgotten upon 
capturing the beautiful scene of the greenery along the Seblat River. On the left 
was vegetation native to the PLG Seblat forest. Unfortunately, across the PLG 
forest, everything has been felled and replaced with palm oil plantations. 
According to Aswin Bangun, Coordinator of PLG Seblat, the plantations have 
aggressively and rapidly been expanded over the past three years. "Three years ago, 
we could still see wild elephants in the [plantation] area," he said. 

Today, the elephants are squeezed into increasingly small habitats. During 
the first day of patrol, we did not see a single herd of wild elephants. On the 
contrary, we only saw remnants of tree felling. Some of the acts were 
committed by the villagers from around PLG Seblat. Chasing them away can trigger a 
conflict with the local community. Lives will be at stake. "PLG was nearly burned 
for chasing away illegal loggers," said Aswin. Consequently, Aswin must find 
smart ways to do so. Last year the biweekly patrols were successful in chasing 
away 100 illegal logger families. The elephant troop also made the loggers 
slightly nervous-today they are rampant only outside the PLG Seblat area. 

Five hours into the journey, with 7 kilometers behind us, we arrived at the 
PLG post. It was just open land where they could set up tents. Supplies were 
unloaded, tents were pitched. After bathing in the river, the body felt fresh, 
the derriere felt less sore, and it was time for what we had all been waiting 
for: dinner. Although the "candlelit dinner" consisted of only rice, scrambled 
eggs, eggplants, and salted fish, it tasted much better than dinner at a 
five-star hotel. Perhaps it was because we all had been hungry since noon. 

The next morning the trip continued to the border between PLG and the Lebong 
Kandis II forest. This was the target of the patrol. Only half an hour into 
it, we could already see the barren woods, filled with felled trees, blackened 
bushes just burned. In the distance the sounds of roaring saws could be heard. 

The trees in the Lebong Kandis II forest, which is 200 meters wide and 3 
kilometers long, have been totally felled. A stone's throw away there were dozens 
of houses belonging to the loggers, and dozens more were being built. Cables 
snaking from a generator set distributed electricity to the houses. The 
corridor connecting PLG and the Lebong Kandis II forest has practically vanished. 
This corridor was expected to help endangered animals such as elephants and 
tigers to breed because the habitat size is bigger and there is more food and prey 
than elsewhere. 

Parnyo, one of the illegal loggers whom Tempo met, admitted that he had paid 
Rp650,000 to Samni, head of Sukamaju village, Putri Hijau subdistrict, North 
Bengkulu, to acquire a concession of 2,500 square meters for settlement land 
and 2 hectares for would-be plantation area. "If this is against the law, do 
with us as you wish." 

In the meantime, under the heat of the sun, Mori, Eva and Sari could only bow 
their heads low. They did not know that their "villages" are continuously 
being invaded by humans. -- Sapto Pradityo (Seblat, Bengkulu) 
 
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Tempo Magazine
No. 48/VI
August 01 - 07, 2006 

Environment 

The Ballad of the Mahout 

Life is hard training, driving and keeping elephants. 

WANTED elephant handlers: male, healthy, enjoy adventures in the jungle, love 
elephants. Tasks: train and feed elephants, and patrol the jungle to care for 
elephants. Salary: Rp85,000 per month. Risks: being kicked, rammed, and 
pursued by herds of trumpeting pachyderms as well as facing armed hunters or 
illegal loggers. 

The job advertisement reached Slamet, an unemployed man from Moyudan 
subdistrict, Sleman regency, 20 kilometers to the west of Yogyakarta. The ad did not 
scare him. With only Rp100,000 in his pocket, Slamet risked going to Bengkulu. 
His mind was made up: enlist as an elephant handler, a mahout-locally known as 
a pawang-candidate at the Elephant Training Center (PLG) in Seblat, 
Bengkulu-around 200 kilometers from the city of Bengkulu. At that time, in 1993, the 
office for elephant affairs was about to be established. 

It was not easy to reach his dream office. After a three-day land journey, 
Slamet had only reached Air Muncang village, Putri Hijau subdistrict, the 
closest village to the PLG. It was still another 7 kilometers to reach the PLG. "At 
that time, there was no big road going to PLG. Everything was jungle," he 
said. He had no choice but to go on foot to PLG Seblat, cutting through the 
jungle. 

Upon reaching there, he was stunned. The training would not start for another 
two months. To survive, while waiting for his work, he became an elementary 
school teacher, until he finally could join up. His status was still a 
contract-basis employee with a salary of Rp85,000 a month. 

When training started, Slamet was shocked. There was no theory taught in 
class. From the first day it was direct practice with elephants, although none of 
the mahout candidates knew anything about the animal. Soemarsono, Slamet's 
classmate, related that every student immediately was allocated an elephant. The 
first instruction was easy: touch the elephant. 

The result? Very predictable. "Being kicked by elephants was our breakfast 
every day," recalled Soemarsono, who had now been promoted to forest policeman. 
But that did not dampen their spirits. 

Caring for a massive animal such as an elephant is both easy and difficult. 
According to Asep, one of the senior mahouts in PLG Seblat, to tame a wild 
elephant takes at least eight months. During the first two days after capture, a 
wild elephant must be chained without being fed. On the third day, it is given 
fresh grass. The early process-designed to make an elephant dependent on its 
handler-lasts for weeks until it is ready to be trained. Even then it has to be 
accompanied by another tame elephant and cannot be mounted yet. Only after it 
is considered tamed can an elephant be ridden without having to be escorted 
by a tame one. 

"Basically elephants are sensitive enough and know if we truly care about 
them," said Asep. Fortunately, until today no elephant handler in PLG Seblat has 
had an accident caused by an elephant. 

Today PLG Seblat has 23 domestic elephants with 31 mahouts, one veterinarian, 
and 10 forest rangers. In addition to patrolling, the elephants are also used 
to drive away and steer herds of wild elephants. The PLG elephant troop has 
been proven effective in handling attacks by wild elephants that often invade 
palm oil plantations. 

But don't think that herding a school of wild elephants is as easy as 
shepherding sheep. To drive them away requires four PLG elephants and their handlers. 
Although they are all elephants it does not mean that wild elephants meekly 
submit to PLG elephants. "Sometimes they have to ram into each other," said 
Asep. This is where the mahouts play an important role to direct their charge. 
Sometimes it is the mahouts that are pursued by the wild elephants. Slamet has 
experienced it. "The other handlers simply laughed their heads off," said Aswin 
Bangun, PLG Seblat Coordinator. That's the risk an elephant handler has to 
take. 

However, the risks are not always in proportion with the rewards that they 
get. Asep was only accepted as a civil servant less than a year after working as 
a mahout for nearly 10 years. A starting mahout only receives a wage of 
Rp700,000 per month. No wonder that the elephant handlers in PLG Seblat in general 
must bend over backwards working in the field outside working hours. Slamet, 
Asep, Soemarsono, and Rasyidin, each have several hectares of palm oil fields 
to add to their incomes. 

That afternoon, Slamet made and painted himself a cabinet for his new house. 
Next to his old house stands a new house with porcelain tiles on around 100 
square maters of land. His determination of 13 years ago has finally yielded 
fruit. 

-- Sapto Pradityo (Bengkulu) 
 
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Controversial Thai elephants land in Australia

SYDNEY, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Eight Thai elephants, whose shipment to Australia 
was earlier blocked by animal welfare protesters, arrived on a remote 
Australian island on Tuesday and will be kept in beachside quarantine before being sent 
to zoos.

"The elephants are in great shapes, they are used to travelling", Sydney's 
Taronga Zoo spokesman Mark Williams told Reuters.

The elephants, which flew out of Thailand on Sunday, will be kept in 
quarantine on Australia's Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean for three months, Williams 
said.

Last July, the Australian government approved the import of the elephants, 
with five bound for a new A$37 million ($28 million) enclosure at Taronga Zoo 
and three for a zoo in the southern city of Melbourne.

The animals will take part in a conservation breeding programme, but 
Australian animal welfare advocates say zoo life puts elephants at risk.

Animal welfare protesters in Thailand tried to prevent the elephants being 
sent to Australia, arguing that several were caught illegally in the wild.

The activists forced the temporary abandonment of a bid to ship the elephants 
to Australia in June by blocking off a quarantine site. 

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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