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Elephant Clinic a Step Toward Popular Conservation: Minister
February 01, 2012

A wild Sumatran elephant is seen roaming the forest in Perawang, Riau province. Indonesia’s endangered elephants, tigers and orangutans on Sumatra island are threatened by habitat loss and poaching. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana/File) A wild Sumatran elephant is seen roaming the forest in Perawang, Riau province. Indonesia’s endangered elephants, tigers and orangutans on Sumatra island are threatened by habitat loss and poaching. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana/File)
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Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan says an elephant hospital planned for Lampung is a major step toward getting the wider public involved in wildlife conservation.

“All parties, especially the people, must be more concerned about conservation,” he said on Tuesday at the ground-breaking ceremony for the hospital in the Way Kambas National Park. The hospital will be the first of its kind in Asia.

“Way Kambas is an extraordinary asset for Lampung, so the people and government of the province must do all they can to support it through conservation programs.”

The elephant hospital, which is also expected to treat Sumatran tigers, rhinos and other species native to the 1,300-square-kilometer park, is a joint effort by the Forestry Ministry, the Lampung administration, Australia Zoo and Taman Safari Indonesia.

Tony Sumampau, director of TSI’s conservation foundation, said that in addition to being the first facility of its kind in Asia, the hospital would also eventually become the biggest elephant hospital in the world.

The current holder of that title is the 81-hectare Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida. The Way Kambas facility will cover 100 hectares.

“The plan is to include things like a watering hole for the animals and training facilities for mahouts,” Tony said.

“We’ll also set up a database and institute programs in which local residents can participate.” 

Antara