Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) feed management at Way Kambas National Park Elephant Training Center, Lampung, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Panjaitan TC, Harianto SP, Agus Setiawan, Gunardi Djoko Winarno. 2023. Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) feed management at Way Kambas National Park Elephant Training Center, Lampung, Indonesia. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 9: 113-117. The Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is an endemic animal that can only be found on the island of Sumatra. The Sumatran elephant is currently an endangered animal whose population is decreasing yearly. Several factors have caused the decline in the Sumatran elephant population, such as habitat loss due to forest conversion, poor habitat quality, forest fires, and poaching. Therefore, feed management is important to ensure the survival of the Sumatran elephant at the Way Kambas National Park Elephant Training Center. This study aims to assess the feed management of Sumatran elephants' health in the WKNP PLG. The method used in this research is literature study, direct observation, and interviews. Interviews were conducted with the WKNP PLG coordinator, veterinarians, medical staff, feed handlers, and forest rangers using the animal welfare assessment scoring parameter. The results show that aspects of feed management include the type, amount, source, preparation, and storage of feed, timing, frequency, method of feeding, and additional feed types. The feed management aspect in PLG WKNP has a weighted value of 114.12 and an average score of 3.8. The feed types for the Sumatran elephants at PLG WKNP include natural forages obtained at grazing locations, additional feed (king grass, corn, bananas, and long beans), and additional supplements. Overall, the feed management for the Sumatran elephants at the WKNP PLG is sufficient, even close to good. In the feed management at the WKNP PLG, there is appropriate management, but some parts of development still have not been implemented.