Plight of injured baby elephant draws attention

The plight of Erin the baby elephant, who was found in a poacher's trap with a severed trunk, received national attention after its story was told online.


The Sumatran elephant was discovered in July 2016 when it was two years old, near a housing settlement in Lampung province's Susukan Baru area, within the 1,300 sq km Way Kambas National Park.

It was weak, thin and had pinworm in its intestine. The tip of its trunk was severed, probably as it struggled after falling into the trap, Kompas.com reported on March 21. Erin was taken to the nearby Rubini Atmawidjaja Elephant Hospital.

Actress Wulan Guritno expressed her grievance on Instagram and appealed to her 2.4 million followers to save Sumatran elephants, and donate for Erin. "So sad seeing this young elephant. Erin needs assistance when she feeds herself," Wulan, 37, said in her post.

The Way Kambas National Park was home to 248 wild elephants at the last census in 2010. The park's rehabilitation center has 66 tamed elephants, including Erin.

Diah Esti Anggraini, a vet at the elephant hospital, told Kompas that Erin's physical condition was weak due to the injury. It could not keep up and had been left behind by a group of wild elephants.

Like other injured elephants left behind by their herds, it relied on its survival instincts and walked towards a settlement.

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