BKSDA Jambi ensures fires do not disturb elephant habitats
Tebo, Jambi (ANTARA) - The Jambi Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has ensured that forest and land fires (karhutla) in Tebo Regency are not disturbing the habitat of Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) in the area.
“The fire in the Semambu area, Sumay District, is indeed on an elephant path, positioned just below the elephant route. However, the elephants’ position is safe,” said the Head of Regional Conservation Section (SKW) II, Martialias Puspito, in Tebo on Thursday.
She explained that the land fire has been occurring since Wednesday (2/9) evening in the Other Use Area (APL), approximately three kilometres from the core zone.
The fire location is confirmed to be outside the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park (TNBT) area, specifically within the buffer zone near the concession holders PT LAJ and PT PAL.
Based on monitoring via Global Positioning System (GPS) collars attached to the elephant groups, the presence of these protected animals is far from the fire site.
She added that the agency is not yet able to calculate the total area of burnt land. Currently, teams from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), along with conservation officers and company representatives, are still conducting firefighting efforts at the location.
“We constantly check the elephants’ positions and the location of hotspots. I cannot yet confirm which specific commodities (crops) are burning, but I can confirm it is within the APL,” she concluded.
The Head of BKSDA Jambi, Himawan Sasongko, previously stated that based on mapping and studies conducted, the agency has identified five large groups of female elephants in the region.
These groups have been fitted with tracking collars or GPS units within the Bukit Tigapuluh landscape population area.
The installation of these GPS collars aims to make it easier for officers to monitor movements in real-time.
Himawan estimates that there is currently a population of 120 elephants within the Bukit Tigapuluh landscape.