Guardians of the Forest: Understanding the Health and Well-being of Sumatran Elephants

We already understand that Sumatran elephants are one of the most majestic animals in Indonesia’s wildlife. They help to maintain balance of the rainforest ecosystem, which leads to harmonious life that we are having. And we as humans who are equipped with intelligence should repay their kindness by at least paying attention to their welfare.

Not just understanding their habitat, but also health, emotions, and long term survival — and how we can contribute to ensuring they are able to continue their lives safely for generations to come.

Growing Up in the Wild
As social animals in the wild, the early stage of an elephant calf’s life is complex and important. Longer than human pregnancy (around 9 months), a mother elephant carries her calf for nearly 2 years before giving birth. Once the calf is born, not only the mother, but other females in the herd also rally around the newborn to protect it from danger and take care of it.

Their solidarity needs to be maintained by all the herd members. Because if the group is torn apart by habitat destruction or poaching, young elephants will lose their mentors and guides, which puts them at greater risk for injury, isolation, or even death. The loss of experienced adult elephants also removes the leadership and wisdom that the group rely on to safely navigate their movement.

A Fragile Home
In the past, Sumatran elephants were living their life in lush and connected forests. They could travel long distances to find a variety of plants for food and drink from clean water sources. Their environment automatically supported their daily needs. Even more amazingly, nature provided them with ways to heal themselves — such as through mud baths that soothe their skin and protected them from infection. But small problems began to arise when forest land was cleared for plantations, infrastructure, and human settlements — causing these elephants to lose the very spaces they depended on.

As their natural living areas shrank, their access to proper food and clean water became limited. Even worse, human activity often pollutes rivers with waste like plastic, chemicals, and rotting food. With their large and sensitive digestive systems, elephants are especially vulnerable to these changes. Naturally, they rely on a consistent intake of high-fiber plants – so when they are forced to eat unfamiliar crops or other food through garbage, it can cause serious digestive issues — from bloating, gas, and constipation to poisoning and internal infections.

Another thing that is dangerous to their health is malnutrition caused by lack of nutrient intake. This can weaken their immune system and increase the risk of disease. We have heard news and stories about elephants wandering into villages. In fact, they don’t do that to create conflict with humans, but because their survival instincts push them to search for food and water wherever they can. Over time, this doesn’t just damage their physical health, but also puts stress on their safety and the tight social bonds they depend on within the herd.

Stress and Sickness
Not just for us humans, stress is a silent but dangerous enemy for our big buddy as well. Like us, Sumatran elephants are social animals that live in bonded family groups. It means their mental and emotional well-being is just as important as their physical state.

When one of their group members is separated, injured or even killed — often due to conflict with predators or humans — these elephants can show signs of depression and anxiety. In this weakened state, their immune system is affected, making them become more vulnerable to illnesses such as tuberculosis, parasitic infections, and foot diseases.

Stress also can change their behavior. They will be unpredictable — some will become more aggressive, while others grow quiet and withdrawn. These are signs of deeper emotional distress that can also disrupt the harmony of their group at that moment, as well as their ability to raise young calves safely.

Mourning and Loss
One of the most painful emotions is a loss. With elephants’ sense of emotions and powerful memories, they feel a loss as painful as we do. When one of them dies, others in the herd often stay close, touching the dead body gently with their trunks and appear visibly distressed. These moments show how they care for one another deeply.

Even worse, repeated loss — whether through disease, habitat loss, or human conflict — can create long-term trauma for them and disrupts the herd’s ability to function as a strong, connected unit.

A Shared Responsibility
All of the things we talked about before are important knowledge for us. Not just for knowing about Sumatran elephants, but also to take part in taking care of them based on our capacity.

The experts from conservation teams across Sumatra are working tirelessly to provide medical care through mobile vet units, rescue orphaned calves, and protect the last remaining forest corridors. Some vaccinations are also given to the young calves to prevent them from being exposed to diseases such as Tetanus, Rabies, Tuberculosis, as well as Foot and Mouth Disease.

On the other hand, we as individuals also have an important role to play. Other than supporting organisations that protect elephant habitats and fund medical treatments, choosing products that come from sustainable sources can reduce the pressure on their forests. Avoiding ivory products and not supporting businesses that use elephants for entertainment can also help shift public values toward respect and care for these animals.

Want to do something more immediate? Let’s share the elephants’ story to others to make a difference. By raising awareness among friends, fellow communities, or social media followers, compassion and understanding can be built in a wider network of support. Every kind action and mindful choice contributes to the bigger picture.

Sumatran elephants are more than just part of wildlife — they are important creatures with rich emotional memories, strong family bonds, and a crucial role in the continuation of the rainforest. Their survival does not just depend on what happens in the jungle, but on how we are as humans choose to live and care. With empathy, thoughtfulness, and real commitment, we can protect these guardians of the forest and help them thrive once more.