Environment and Forestry Minister Reveals Elephant Corridor in Riau Will Be Connected Soon

Environment and Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni inspected the Elephant Training Centre (PLG) Sebanga and PLG Minas in Riau. The visit was part of evaluating and accelerating the Sumatra elephant corridor linking programme, which had previously been fragmented due to land-use changes and forest degradation.

In November, Raja Juli also visited PLG Sebanga, where he heard from local communities about land and facility constraints at the Sebanga centre.

Now several welfare facilities for the animals have been realised at PLG Sebanga, including the construction of water reservoirs, expansion of land for feed enrichment, and a holding pen for medical treatment.

‘Praise be to God on this auspicious day, I had the opportunity to visit PLG Sebanga. A few months ago I also visited Sebanga and heard from the community that the PLG Sebanga’s condition was concerning, with some saying only 1 hectare remained. Praise be to God, now we have secured 15 hectares for grazing,’ Raja Juli said in a statement on Thursday (5/3).

‘Secondly, we now have clean water tanks; we have built an embung; a holding pen for treatment has been established, and feed enrichment covers around 1 hectare with sugarcane, pineapple and bananas,’ he added.

From Sebanga, Raja Juli then continued to PLG Minas. At this site the government intends to strengthen veterinary facilities and promote connectivity of elephant habitats that are isolated because of forest fragmentation.

‘God willing, we will establish an elephant clinic, and there is also a programme to connect the corridor from PLG Minas to other sites that are isolated due to forest fragmentation,’ he said.

Moreover, the corridor-linking programme is seen as crucial to maintaining natural elephant movements and ensuring the sustainability of the Sumatran elephant population in Riau. Raja Juli called on all parties to support conservation efforts.