There's less than 10 years remaining to save Sumatran elephants, says guest Leif Cocks, founder of the International Elephant Project, so we followed up with him to learn what is being done to save the critically endangered species' shrinking habitats, and to discuss the growing movement to recognize their 'personhood' and thereby ensure their interests are considered in development decisions.

Leif also shares his thoughts on a planned hydropower dam in North Sumatra, sited in the only habitat where the last, critically endangered Tapanuli orangutans live. This project has also, tragically, claimed the lives of 16 workers in less than 2 years. 

Related Reading via Mongabay:

• ‘Chased from every side’: Sumatran elephants pinned down by forest loss
• Photos: Meet the Indonesians on the front lines of human-elephant conflict in Sumatra
• ‘Cursed’ dam project in orangutan habitat claims 16th life in less than 2 years

To hear our previous conversation with Leif on Sumatran elephants, see season 2, episode 6 of the Mongabay Explores podcast, here:

Podcast: With just 10 years left to save Sumatran elephants, what can be done now?

Episode artwork: Sumatran elephants play in water. Image by vincentraal via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0).

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