13 Climbers Caught Picking Edelweiss Flowers and Littering on Mount Tambora

Thirteen climbers on Mount Tambora, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), were found to have violated regulations. They picked and carried edelweiss flowers and littered indiscriminately at the summit of Mount Tambora.

“Yes, that is correct (13 climbers violated regulations while climbing Mount Tambora),” said Tambora Police Chief, First Inspector Suhadak, when confirmed by detikBali on Wednesday (19/8/2026).

The dozen climbers were caught violating the rules while the Tambora Police conducted patrols and security operations on Tuesday (18/8/2026). The joint patrol involved personnel from the Tambora Police, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), Forest Police (Polhut), and the Tambora National Park Authority.

“The joint patrol was carried out as an effort to anticipate and minimise potential security disturbances during the peak season of Mount Tambora climbing,” Suhadak explained.

The joint team conducted patrols and security operations on two climbing routes, namely the Pintu Rimba route in Oi Bura Village, Tambora District, Bima Regency, and at the Pancasila Climbing Resort Office in Tambora Village, Pekat District, Dompu Regency.

As a result of the patrol, 10 climbers were found carrying edelweiss flowers picked at the summit of Mount Tambora, and three climbers failed to bring down rubbish from food packaging they had taken up during the climb.

“The 13 climbers who committed violations have been given written warnings and a ban on climbing Mount Tambora for the next one year,” Suhadak explained.

Suhadak added that patrols and security operations on the Mount Tambora climbing routes will continue to be carried out, especially during certain moments such as Indonesian Independence Day celebrations, New Year celebrations, and so on.

“Patrols and security operations involving the joint team are intensively carried out. The aim is to prevent public order disturbances on the Mount Tambora climbing routes,” Suhadak added.