Indonesia: 1-year-old Sumatran elephant dies after losing half of her trunk

Despite attempts to cure wounds of a baby elephant who was trapped by poachers in Indonesia's Sumatra island in Aceh province, she died on Tuesday after losing half her trunk to a trap set. According to Agus Arianto, he of Aceh's conservation agency trunk of baby elephant stopped working after it was cut. He also stated that y did everything y could but, unfortunately couldn't save elephant. 1-year-old female elephant was one of only 700 wild Sumatran elephants left on island.

According to conservation officials, she was found on Sunday, November 14, in Alue Meuraksa, a village covered with forest in Aceh Jaya district. Arianto also said that a team of doctors were examining newborn elephant's body to ascertain cause of death. According to Arianto, wildlife officials h to amputate half of trunk on Monday, November 15.

Baby elephant became ill from stress and infection says Doctor

Rika Marwati, a veterinarian at clinic stated that her death was shocking since she appeared fine after being amputated. She became ill from stress and infection late Monday and died next morning.  conservationists said  Coronavirus pandemic has led to an upsurge in poaching in Sumatra, as locals turn to hunt as a source of income. In previous nine years, 25 Sumatran elephants have died as a result of being snared and poisoned in East Aceh area alone, according to Arianto.

In its 2012 Red List, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) upgred Sumatran elephant's status from endangered to critically endangered, owing to a significant decline in population, as evident by loss of over 69% of elephant's potential habitat in last 25 years. According to data from Indonesian forestry and environment ministry, Sumatran elephant population has decreased by nearly half since 2014, from 1,300 to 693.

About Sumatran elephants 

Sumatran elephants are found in Sumatra Island and  Sunda Islands in Indonesia. se elephants are among largest mammals on land, belonging to Elephantidae family. According to A-Z Animals, Sumatran elephants are intelligent and have a good memory. y require a large amount of land to grow.

Inputs from AP News

Image: AP