The Regional Animal Park Company (PDTS) Surabaya Zoo (KBS) invited the Elephant Conservator from Sumatra, Nazarudin, to train a new mahout (elephant trainer / nurse) to add skills and supplies regarding elephants.
"This training is so that mahouts can understand and understand how to care for elephants properly. Elephants should not be handled carelessly, they must be equipped with knowledge so that elephants can live in prosperity,"
He said a mahout does not only serve as a nurse by feeding, bathing and training elephants. However, a mahout is also in charge of making daily observations about the health of elephants.
"A mahout will practice how to approach individuals with elephants. This means that the correct handling of elephants will have an impact on their welfare so that they do not feel confined and can experience life like in their natural habitat," said the man who also serves as the Chair of the Indonesian Elephant Mahout Forum.
He explained that a new mahout needed intensive training for at least three months. This training is not limited to learning to give commands, but also includes a thorough knowledge of elephant life.
"A mahout must first be able to win over an elephant. This is done so that the elephant can recognize the mahout's voice to understand spoken commands," said the man who also works in Way Kambas National Park, East Lampung.
He added that the mahouts at KBS this time could handle elephants well. The five elephants at KBS look healthy and well-groomed. This is characterized by posture, diet and daily behavior.
"There are five elephants in KBS, namely Doa, Hilir, Lembang, Manis and Gonzales. They are always invited to go around the KBS area for treatment. Then in the afternoon bathe in the pool with the mahouts," he said.
In one elephant care at KBS, adequate feed is provided, consisting of corn rice, carrots, grass, bananas, and papaya. Meanwhile, elephant activity which is applied in the care of elephants at KBS is to provide opportunities for existing elephants to interact with each other.
"The mahouts have given the elephants the opportunity to interact with each other, because the life of elephants in the forest is in groups. So KBS management implements a care system that does not take away the rights of elephants, such as giving them the opportunity to breed or mate or interact with each other," he said.
In the selection of the new mahout at KBS, 25 internal participants were participated, but only two were selected who passed the physical selection. Now there are seven elephant mahout at KBS.
Thank You.