\u201cWe want to raise the area\u2019s protection status to a conservation\narea. The coalition proposes designating 80,000 hectares of forest in\nSeblat as a wildlife sanctuary,\u201d Kanopi Hijau Indonesia Head Ali Akbar\nsaid here Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Ali said the proposal reflects growing pressure on Seblat, one of the\nremaining habitats for Sumatran elephants in Bengkulu, as forests are\nincreasingly converted and fragmented.<\/p>\n
Coalition analysis shows Seblat\u2019s core area covers about 80,978\nhectares, with about 30,017 hectares reportedly converted into oil palm\nplantations.<\/p>\n
Ali said forest loss and habitat fragmentation must be addressed\nurgently to safeguard the survival of Sumatran elephants in the\narea.<\/p>\n
\u201cFewer than 50 elephants remain here. This strongly indicates the\nherd is approaching a critical point that could lead to local\nextinction,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Protecting elephant habitat requires cooperation among stakeholders\nbecause Seblat remains under pressure from land-use changes and logging,\nAli said.<\/p>\n
The coalition also highlighted the deaths of a 25-year-old female\nelephant and her two-year-old calf, which were found dead in the forest\non April 30, 2026.<\/p>\n
Ali said toxicology tests by IPB University, received by the Bengkulu\nNatural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), found fluoride, sulfate\nand ammonia compounds in both elephants.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe laboratory results show the elephants were poisoned, possibly\nafter ingesting poison. Chemicals were found in their bodies, indicating\npotential conflict involving elephants, pressured farmers and certain\ngroups,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bengkulu\u2019s BKSDA Head Agung Nugroho said the province has about 25 to\n30 elephants remaining, including 10 under human care at Seblat Nature\nTourism Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cFour calves have been recorded among the wild elephants, with the\nrest adults. So the population is still reproducing,\u201d Agung said.<\/p>\n
Despite continued reproduction, Agung said elephants and their\nhabitat face mounting pressure from declining forest cover and\nconversion to oil palm plantations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this continues, the elephant population will be threatened, and\nthat is what we must prevent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The coalition made the proposal during Elephant Camp 2026, held with\nstudents and local communities at Seblat Nature Tourism Park from\nAug.\u00a015 to 17.<\/p>\n
Seblat Elephant Training Center coordinator Johansyah said Elephant\nCamp demonstrated public support for elephant conservation and the\nspecies\u2019 long-term survival in Seblat.<\/p>\n
\u201cParticipants can interact directly with elephants while learning\nabout Sumatran elephants in Bengkulu,\u201d Johansyah said.<\/p>\n
Elephants also play an important ecological role as seed dispersers,\nhelping maintain forest ecosystems.<\/p>\n
By feeding, moving and defecating, elephants disperse plant seeds,\ncreate natural pathways and support forest regeneration, helping\nmaintain plant diversity.<\/p>\n
Related news: Three Sumatran elephant deaths raise conservation\nconcerns in Aceh<\/p>\n
Related news: World Elephant Day 2026: Indonesia\u2019s fight to save its\nelephants<\/p>\n
Translator: Boyke LW, Rahmad Nasution<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/coalition-calls-for-sanctuary-status-for-seblat-elephant-habitat-1787140214", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }