UPG - Gunung Leuser National Park Sumatra | Photo 02

Conservationists in Sumatra have found just the heavyweight solution to protect local rainforests – the elephant patrol.

With much of the terrain of the 2.6m hectare rainforest impenetrable to motorbikes and 4×4 vehicles, Sumatran elephants are ideal transport.

The unit’s tusked members have been likened to “living armored personnel carriers”. Elephants have been used to trample loggers’ huts, rip up illegal oil palm plantations and even chase away wild elephants.