Conservation | Asian Elephants | Research Papers | Reintroductions

Elephant specialist travels to Sumatra to attend
Second Sumatran Mahout Workshop

In December, 2007 African Lion Safari’s elephant handler Mark Matassa was invited to travel to Indonesia to take part and help facilitate the second Sumatran Mahout Workshop. The workshop was held at the Saree Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) in Aceh Province.

All Elephant Conservation Centers in Sumatra were represented as well as Taman Safari Indonesia from the island of Java. The intent of this workshop was to discuss the various issues in their facilities, as well as conditions, technical and management problems faced by mahouts in their work with elephants and habitat conservation efforts.

Each participant made a presentation about their situation (i.e. number of elephants, number of staff, specific use of the elephants, etc.) and any problems they have encountered. Mark Matassa was asked to give a presentation on the Award winning elephant programme at African Lion Safari. His presentation focused on African Lion Safari’s world-renowned success in husbandry and reproduction. This was followed by discussions on techniques and demonstrations of elephant care and management, and a general discussion session.

After the workshop was complete Mark visited the Tangkahan Conservation Response Unit (CRU) project, the Tangkahan CRU is located on the Kualsa Buluh River and is on the border of 8600 sq.km Gunung Leuser National Park, home to Sumatran elephants, tigers, rhinoceros and orang utan. The CRU project involves using camp elephants, their mahouts and Forest Rangers to patrol protected areas. Mark went on patrol with the CRU and was able to exchange information with them on the care and management of their elephants.Since the Tangkahan CRU has been established the illegal logging and poaching has virtually been stopped within the CRU patrol area!