Jakarta, Aug. 7 -- Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that the government is intensifying conservation efforts for the Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) in two land blocks donated by President Prabowo Subianto, beginning with a re-collection of population data.

"What is currently being carried out is, first, re-recording and re-counting the number of elephant individuals in the blocks," Antoni told reporters after a meeting discussing the Peusangan Elephant Conservation Initiative (PECI) in Central Aceh, during a meeting held here on Thursday.

He explained that of the 90 thousand hectares of Industrial Plantation Forest (HTI) owned by President Prabowo Subianto, two blocks are home to elephant populations. The first ...