gajah

Gajah is the Indonesian word for elephant, a large herbivorous mammal in the family Elephantidae. There are two living elephant species: the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). In Indonesia, gajah most often refers to the Asian elephant, which historically ranged across the archipelago but now survives mainly in Sumatra and parts of Borneo; Java's elephant population is extinct in the wild, though a few individuals remain in captivity.

Asian elephants inhabit tropical forests, grasslands, and wetlands. In Indonesia they occur in lowland and montane forests on Sumatra and Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo). They require large home ranges and connect through corridors; habitat loss from logging, agricultural expansion, and palm oil plantations fragments populations and increases human-elephant conflict.

Physically, elephants are characterized by their trunk, tusks, large ears, and massive bodies. Asian elephants typically stand about 2.5 to 3.5 meters tall at the shoulder and weigh 2.5 to 5 tonnes. They are social animals, living in matriarchal herds led by elder females; males may be solitary or form bachelor groups.

Reproduction lasts about 18 to 22 months gestation, producing usually one calf every 4 to 6 years. Elephants have long lifespans, often 60 to 70 years in the wild. Their diet is herbivorous, including grasses, leaves, fruit, bark, and roots.

Conservation status for the Asian elephant is Endangered on the IUCN Red List. In Indonesia, protection is provided by law, with efforts focused on protected areas, anti-poaching, habitat restoration, and reducing human-elephant conflict. Despite challenges, captive and rescue populations, and ecotourism programs aim to support conservation and awareness.