Jakarta. A male Sumatran elephant calf was born at Way Kambas National Park (TNWK), East Lampung, on Friday. Born in healthy condition weighing 67.3 kilograms, the birth process went smoothly under the supervision of veterinarians and TNWK staff.

The birth of this baby elephant adds to the population of tame elephants at TNWK East Lampung, which now totals 34 individuals.

The male elephant calf is the third offspring of a female elephant named Dita, 32. Previously, Dita had given birth to two female calves, Queen,14 and Desti, 9. At present, Dita and her newborn are still under strict monitoring by staff and therefore not yet available for public viewing.

According to TNWK data, the current tame elephant population stands at 62, consisting of 34 at PLG and 28 at the Elephant Rescue Unit. Meanwhile, the wild elephant population in Way Kambas forest is estimated to be between 160 and 180.

Head of TNWK East Lampung, MHD Zaidi, said that the birth of this elephant calf is an important milestone in the effort to conserve endangered species.

“We hope this calf will grow up healthy and become an important part of the Sumatran elephant population in the future,” Zaidi said on Wednesday.

He added that TNWK, which spans more than 125,000 hectares, is not only home to Sumatran elephants but also Sumatran tigers, Sumatran rhinos, and various rare bird species. The birth of this elephant calf is expected to raise public awareness of the importance of preserving the environment.