Sumatran elephants feed on a variety of plants and deposit seeds wherever they go, contributing to a healthy forest ecosystem. They also share their lush forest habitat with several other endangered species, such as the Sumatran rhino, tiger, and orangutan, and countless other species that all benefit from an elephant population that thrives in a healthy habitat.

 

Sumatran elephants were once widespread on Sumatra.  Today, however, the subspecies only survives highly fragmented populations.  Within the last 25 years, the elephants have lost 70% of their habitat.

 

Sumatran elephants are found in lowland forest close to rivers, although they may also be found in hill forests on a seasonal basis.

They have a lighter skin than their relatives and usually quite small tusks.