Hoop Dreams

Sumatran elephants receive training from elephant keeper for circus performance in between patrolling the conservation looking for illegal loggers who are destroying the habitat of Sumatran elephants on June 13, 2010 in Way Kambas, Lampung, Indonesia. Sumatran elephants are becoming increasingly endangered due to the destruction of their habitat by logging, palm oil and rubber industries. This has resulted in the animals invading local villages trampling locals to death and destroying homes and crops. Villagers in Lampung saw 327 elephants invade in a three month period during 2009, causing death and destruction as their own habitat continues to be threatened. Forest rangers and activists from the Wildlife Conservation Society are trying various methods to return them to the forest, including training them to keep away, along with hunting for illegal loggers. The current population for the mammals is estimated at 2000 to 2700.