Dramatic Encounter: Manggala Agni Faces Sumatran Tiger whilst Fighting Forest Fires in Riau
Jakarta — Forest and land fires (Karhutla) continue to plague Riau and the Riau Islands, forcing Manggala Agni teams to work amid scorching heat and fasting on Tuesday (10 March 2026). In Pelalawan, officers even came face-to-face with a Sumatran tiger, adding to the risks of already challenging firefighting operations.
Ferdian, Head of the Regional Forest and Land Fire Control Centre for Sumatra, highlighted challenges faced by the team as most members were fasting and had to maintain their fitness amidst extreme weather and security risks. “Beyond the extremely hot weather, security is a major concern. Last night, near the extinguishing operation on Pulau Muda in Pelalawan, one Sumatran tiger was found. This naturally requires heightened vigilance from all team members to ensure safety during work, and workplace safety procedures must be carried out with discipline,” he said on Wednesday (11 March 2026).
To protect both personnel and wildlife, coordination with Riau’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) has been established, with conservation teams now managing the Sumatran tiger.
Ferdian explained that Manggala Agni is working in an integrated manner with relevant parties at several fire hotspots, including Kampar Regency, Bengkalis, Indragiri Hilir, Pelalawan, and Batam City, with fires spread across Rimbo Panjang Village, Sukarjo Mesim Village, Teluk Lecah Village, Tanjung Leban Village, Tanjung Pidada Village, Pulau Muda Village, and Rempang Cate Subdistrict.
Analysis of satellite imagery from the Ministry of Forestry shows the forest and land fire area in Riau from January to February 2026 reached 4,400 hectares, with 94 per cent on peatland.
Ferdian emphasised the focus on extinguishing fires in Pelalawan and Bengkalis, with intensive efforts by all teams to prevent further expansion. “All teams in the field continue to work intensively to control the situation and prevent potential expansion of forest and land fires. Extinguishing and prevention efforts are being carried out in an integrated manner with all stakeholders,” he said.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned that Sumatra’s dry season will begin gradually in May and expand across most regions by June. Predictions of El Niño, originally expected in 2027, are now estimated to arrive in the second half of 2026, increasing the risk of forest fires and drought. The peak of the dry season is expected in July-August across most of central and southern Sumatra.