Save Our Forest Giants
In 2015, the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Indonesia adopted two elephants from the Leuser Ecosystem as EU Mascots, symbols of the EU commitment to biodiversity, conservation and the fight against climate change. To bring public attention to the importance of Indonesia’s elephants and forests, the EU has now supported a short documentary promoting elephants’ protection – Save Our Forest Giants – starring the well-known actor Nicholas Saputra. This short documentary was produced jointly by Mr Saputra and Amanda Marahimin. Mr Saputra is a celebrated actor and Ms Marahimin is known for her work on several popular films including Gie, The Year of Living Vicariously and Three Days to Forever.
EU Mascots and support to the environment
The EU over the past 20 years has supported the Government of Indonesia’s decision to protect Aceh and North Sumatra's forests through a number of projects amounting to over €50 million. One such effort by the EU was the Leuser Development Programme implemented in 1995-2004 to support the ecosystem long-term conservation, which led to the creation of an independent management body, the Leuser International Foundation. An activity which has successfully survived the test of time and the end of donors' funding is the Aras Napal Elephant Patrol Unit (EPU), training elephants coming from Southern Sumatra to protect the Leuser Ecosystem.
It is from this EPU that the EU Delegation adopted in June 2015 young elephant Aras as an EU mascot to bring public attention to the importance of forest protection and the fight against climate change. Aras' mother – Tanti – was supported by the previous EU projects, highlighting the sustainability of EU support.
Later in October 2015, the EU Delegation adopted baby elephant Eropa from the Conservation Response Unit (CRU) in Tangkahan. The CRU supports conservation and community-based ecotourism in the Leuser Ecosystem. It is also the place, whose elephants and mahouts were featured in the new video.
The EU has provided assistance for nature conservation and biodiversity protection in Indonesia, ASEAN and globally to fight the adverse effects of climate change. While an international and collective process is ongoing to take up the challenges of climate change globally, the EU values local initiatives, especially in Indonesia which is amongst the highest emitters of greenhouse gas in the world. To do so, EU efforts in Indonesia continue with an action on “Support to Indonesia’s climate change response”, a €15 million programme to help set a low-carbon development path. In addition, the EU has supported the Indonesian forestry sector since 1994 and continues to assist in dealing with illegal deforestation through the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade programme.
Threat from Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Viruses (EEHV)
The short documentary film also aims at raising awareness and building impetus for research on a recently recognised herpes virus, EEHV. The virus can cause severe hemorrhagic disease in elephants and is associated with a high fatality rate in young Asian elephants (1-8 years of age). Death frequently occurs within 1-2 days of the first visible signs, and early diagnosis and treatment is critical to survival.
Continued studies and research are the tools to better manage the disease, prevent it and control its spread to ensure the continued survival and conservation of elephants. Further collaboration in refining effective treatments and help in the development of a vaccine to prevent EEHV would be the key for the future.