Indonesia Launches New 10 Year Plan to Protect Its Wild Elephants

A new national strategy aims to give Indonesia’s remaining wild elephants stronger protection over the next decade. Indonesia has launched a new 2026–2036 conservation strategy and action plan aimed at protecting its wild elephant populations and the forests they depend on. The plan comes at an important time. Indonesia’s latest assessment estimates that between 1,325 and 1,648 wild elephants remain in the country. Most are Sumatran elephants, a critically endangered subspecies facing growing pressure from habitat loss and human activity. The new strategy identifies 22 elephant population areas across Sumatra and Kalimantan, giving conservation groups and government agencies a framework for protecting these remaining populations.

Protecting More Than Elephants

One of the biggest challenges is habitat. Forests that once provided elephants with large areas to roam have increasingly been changed for plantations, logging and other development.

The new plan therefore goes beyond simply counting elephants. It focuses on protecting their habitats, improving conservation efforts and bringing different organizations and government agencies together to make better decisions. Only around 23% of Indonesia’s wild elephants currently live in areas officially protected by the government, showing how much work remains. A 10-year plan cannot save elephants on its own. Its success will depend on turning commitments into action on the ground and making sure communities and wildlife can safely share the landscape.

For We Save The World, this is an important reminder that protecting endangered species starts with giving them a future and protecting the places they call home.

The next ten years could make a lasting difference for Indonesia’s elephants.