Forestry Minister Pursues Recovery of Tesso Nilo National Park and Elephant Habitat

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has stated the government’s commitment under President Prabowo Subianto to protect the nation’s forests and iconic wildlife, including the Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus), by restoring their habitats in Sumatra.

Speaking to journalists following the opening of a cat sterilisation campaign and the Forestry Ministry’s Animal-Friendly initiative in Jakarta on Thursday, Minister Raja Juli Antoni explained that the government is currently undertaking forest area recovery and reforestation in Tesso Nilo National Park following the reclamation of land and the removal of illegal palm oil operations within the conservation zone.

“It must be noted that after decades, this is the first time a government under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership has taken concrete action to save Tesso Nilo National Park,” said the Forestry Minister.

He noted that the issue of illegal plantations in Tesso Nilo National Park had persisted for an extended period, but only recently has the government undertaken land reclamation through the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force.

The minister stated that he will return to Tesso Nilo National Park next week alongside Commission IV Chair of the House of Representatives Siti Hediati Hariyadi, also known as Titiek Soeharto, and Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to provide stronger political backing.

Support for conservation improvements will also be extended to protected areas in Sebanga and Minas, which serve as habitat for Sumatran elephants.

“Sebanga was previously down to just 1 hectare of remaining habitat, but we have now expanded it to 15 hectares. Several locations have been identified as potential sources of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) transmission, at water sources where we have now built reservoirs. We have constructed squeeze cages for treatment of sick animals, and we have enrichment feeding programmes. The work is extensive but we continue to progress. There are plans to establish an elephant hospital in collaboration with an institution in India,” said the minister.

These measures, he explained, demonstrate the government under President Prabowo Subianto’s concrete commitment to protecting Indonesia’s distinctive wildlife.