The deaths of protected wildlife are increasingly widespread in Indonesia. The discovery of the carcasses of a tiger and an elephant in the Seblat Landscape in Bengkulu has added to the growing list of such cases. In response, Minister of Forestry (Menhut), Raja Juli, announced that the government would revoke the Forest Utilization Business Licenses (PBPH) of PT Bentara Arga Timber (BAT) and PT Anugerah Pratama Inspirasi (API).
Responding to the issue, Chair of the Indonesian Biology Consortium (KOBI) and Dean of Biology UGM, Professor Budi Setiadi Daryono, expressed deep sorrow and concern over the deaths of the Sumatran elephant and Sumatran tiger in the Seblat Landscape, Bengkulu.
“Every loss of these keystone species is not only a biodiversity tragedy but also a signal that habitat pressures and human-wildlife conflicts have reached a critical point,” said Professor Daryono on Wednesday (Jun. 3).
The Seblat Landscape is one of the last strongholds for wild tigers and elephants in Sumatra. KOBI strongly condemns all forms of hunting and poisoning of protected wildlife. However, the root causes lie in habitat fragmentation and inadequate conflict prevention measures. Without secure wildlife corridors and science-based landscape management, similar incidents will continue to occur.
“Elephants and tigers play vital ecological roles that cannot be replaced. Therefore, protecting forests and maintaining ecosystem balance is an obligation shared by communities, governments, and the state,” he said.
Professor Daryono emphasized that KOBI has put forward several strategic recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to help protect endangered wildlife in Sumatra. First, conduct transparent forensic audits and map conflict-prone areas in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA). Second, strengthen early warning systems for human-wildlife conflict and provide fair compensation for affected communities. Third, involve local communities as forest guardians by granting them meaningful incentives and authority.
In addition, KOBI stands ready to collaborate with the government, NGOs, academics, and local communities and is prepared to deploy wildlife biologists to provide assistance.
“The Seblat Landscape must remain a shared home for wildlife, particularly elephants and tigers, and for people so that they can coexist harmoniously. When forests remain healthy, the villages surrounding them can prosper as well,” he concluded.
Author: Jelita Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photo: Australia Plus ABC