The Sumatran Elephant

The Sumatran elephant (scientific name elephas maximus sumatranus) is a subspecies of Asian elephant that inhabits the tropical broadleaf forests of Sumatra, an island located in Southeast Asia. It can stand (at the shoulder) between 5 and 9 feet tall, grow up to 20 feet long, and weigh approximately 10,000 pounds. Its tusks, which only males possess, are typically smaller than those of other subspecies of elephant.

The Sumatran elephant is classified as a Critically Endangered species. It is this close to becoming extinct for three reasons. The first reason is that it is poached for its tusks, as they can be sold in the illegal ivory market. Because of this, one of the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF's) efforts to save it consists of coordinating wildlife patrol units that: conduct antipoaching patrols, help authorities apprehend poachers, and confiscate the various means of trapping wild animals. The second reason is that most of its habitat has been converted into pulp, paper, or a palm oil plantation. Because of this, another one of the WWF's efforts to save it consists of calling on conservation organizations, palm oil companies, the Indonesian government, and members of the pulp and paper industries to work together to conserve it and its habitat. The third reason is that it is sometimes killed by the people whose nearby settlements it unintentionally enters. Because of this, yet another one of the WWF's efforts to save it consists of working with companies and communities around its habitat to create space for it and the people around it to peacefully coexist. All of this is being done for two reasons. The first reason is that it deposits the seeds of the various plants it eats everywhere it travels, which keeps its habitat healthy. The second reason is that the species it shares its habitat with (for example, the Sumatran tiger, the Sumatran rhino, and the Sumatran orangutan) benefit when it is thriving in a healthy habitat.

Source for picture and all information: https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sumatran-elephant