Good news has arrived from the Padang Sugihan Wildlife Conservation Centre in Banyuasin, South Sumatra.
A healthy female Sumatran elephant calf was born in the early hours of Wednesday, 4 December 2025, marking another milestone for conservation efforts in the region.
The South Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) shared the update through its official Instagram account, @bksda_sumsel, around 20 hours after the birth.
The calf was born naturally at the Padang Sugihan Elephant Conservation Centre (PKG), Jalur 21, sometime between midnight and 3 a.m. local time.
The baby elephant has been named Rohmah. She is the daughter of Mama Ronika and Papa Gapula, and weighed approximately 89 kilograms at birth.
According to the veterinary team, her condition was excellent from the start. Shortly after being born, Rohmah was able to stand on her own and nurse directly from her mother.
Mama Ronika was also reported to be in stable condition following the delivery. She showed normal breathing, responded calmly to the presence of veterinarians and mahouts, and displayed no signs of distress.
From the first hours after birth, she remained close to her calf, gently guiding Rohmah to feed and maintaining constant physical contact.
This early bonding is considered an important indicator of healthy maternal behaviour. For the conservation team on site, it was a reassuring sign that both mother and calf were adapting well during the critical postpartum period.
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Public Response
Following the birth, the PKG Jalur 21 team immediately carried out intensive monitoring. Veterinarians and mahouts conducted a full health assessment, closely observing Rohmah’s body temperature, breathing patterns, and behavioural responses. Monitoring continues around the clock to ensure her steady development.
The enclosure environment has been kept secure and comfortable, while Mama Ronika’s diet has been carefully adjusted to support milk production and recovery.
According to Merius, Head of the PKG Jalur 21 Resort, all procedures are being carried out in line with established conservation and animal welfare standards.
Rohmah is classified as a tame elephant fostered by PKG Jalur 21. With her arrival, the number of tame elephants in the Padang Sugihan conservation area has now increased to 29 individuals.
The wider Sugihan–Simpang Heran elephant habitat, which includes both wild and tame elephants, is estimated to be home to around 141 elephants in total.
The birth highlights Padang Sugihan’s ongoing role as a key conservation site for Sumatran elephants in South Sumatra. Amid continued challenges such as habitat loss and human–elephant conflict, each successful birth strengthens efforts to secure the species’ future.
Public reaction to the news was warm and enthusiastic. Social media users shared their excitement in the comments section of the BKSDA post.
“Alhamdulillah, healthy baby,” wrote a netizen.
“Welcome to the world, baby,” commented another netizen.
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