Way Kambas Elephant Training Center (PLG), located at Way Kambas National Park, in Lampung, Indonesia , was founded in 1985.
The 1000 ha facility was established in Way Kambas National Park after the capture of a young female elephant 'Kartrja', in 1984, which had fallen into a disused well. An additional three elephants were captured by PHPA in response to the killing of a young boy by a crop-raiding elephant in Sukadana near Way Kambas.
The tradition of elephantkeeping which eventually returned to Sumatra in 1985 with the establishment of the centre in Way Kambas National Park was introduced from Thailand with the arrival of two Thai 'khoonkie elephants and four mahouts from the Northern province of Chaiyaphum. The aims of the centre as stated by Santiapillai & Ramono (1991) were to "promote the breeding of elephants in captivity so that some animals will be available for use in Fores0y and nature oriented tourism" which was latter expanded to "reestablish the elephant as part of Sumatra\'s myths, history and cultural heritage (Santiapillai & Ramono, 1991). The PHPA were helped in their efforts by Taman Safari Indonesia (TSI) who were involved in the successful selection and Translocation of the two khoonkie elephants and mahouts from Thailand to Way Kambas National Park (Manansang, 1993).
Between 1984 and 1996, 285 wild elephants were captured in Lampung province, with I I and six elephants captured in I 99 I and I 992 respectively (Table 3), contrary to the number given in the annual report of pHpA BKSDAII, Tanjung Karang, which stated that 36 elephants were captured in 1991/92, ten from central Lampung and 26 from northern Lampung. The number of captures between 1994 and I 997 increased annually contrary to the proposed decrease in the number of captured elephants to be brought to the centre in Way Kambas (Suprahman et. aL.,1993).
Data from the Forestry Department\'s annual statistics report indicate that I l8 elephants were transferred from the centre in Way Kambas in 1995
The greatest number of elephants has been sent to Taman Safari Indonesia (TSI) which received 25 elephants, 19 females and 6 males
There have been achievements since the centre in Way Kambas began only 13 years ago. The birth of at least 25 calves is partly a reflection of the opportunity for mutiple matings within the centre\'s population and with visiting wild males.
Up to May, 1997 l4S trained elephants had been transferred to a minimum of 33 different government and private centres ranging from tounst resorts to logging operations and plantations.
