A UNESCO World Heritage site in Danger needs your help! Your donations will help the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra combat the crisis of poaching of Sumatran elephants. An emergency appeal has been launched by our partner, the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) for local conservation group HAkA.

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You can also watch the emergency appeal video by clicking here.

An emergency appeal has been launched by the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) for local conservation group HAkA, in response to a significant increase in poaching of Sumatran elephants in Aceh, Indonesia.The tropical forests of the Leuser Ecosystem in northern Sumatra, Indonesia, part of a designated World Heritage site in Danger, currently support approximately 500 Sumatran elephants. But conservationists fear that an increase in poaching could drive this number down even further.

This Critically Endangered species is already suffering badly from the loss, damage and fragmentation of its forest home with almost 70% of suitable habitat destroyed in the last 25 years alone. But habitat loss is not the only threat to these animals – poaching too is on the rise. In the first five months of this year, local conservation group HAkA has found and destroyed 139 snares – already more than in the whole of 2013.

Field data shows that in the dry season poaching and snare-setting increases dramatically. This means that poaching looks set to get worse very soon. The critical period for deploying more ranger protection patrols begins on 30 June. 

The fragmentation of elephant habitat means that many of the remaining forest blocks are too small to sustain elephant populations, which is increasing conflict between humans and elephants as these animals come into contact with human settlements and farmland. In extreme cases, elephants may be killed in retaliation for crop raiding, property damage or injury.

Limited forest cover also means that elephants can easily be trapped in small areas, making them easier targets for poachers. With the most intense hunting period beginning in late June, there is an urgent need to step up protection to safeguard Sumatran elephants against this deadly threat to their survival.

The Rapid Response Facility (RRF) is therefore launching an emergency appeal to support patrol teams from local conservation group HAkA.

The appeal will allow the HAkA teams (made up of local community members and trained conservation professionals) to carry out essential patrols in the Leuser ecosystem throughout July, to remove snares from this key Sumatran elephant corridor during this most critical time. 

By donating today, you can help save the giants of Sumatra. We thank you for your support.