Honey Bear Attacks Resident in Pelalawan, Leaving Victim Unconscious

The Ministry of Forestry, through the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA), moved swiftly to follow up on a reported conflict between a honey bear (Helarctos malayanus) and a resident in Pangkalan Gondai Village, Langgam District, Pelalawan Regency, Riau Province. Shortly after receiving the report, the Riau BBKSDA deployed a Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) team from Pekanbaru to the location on Wednesday (5/8). The team brought a box trap as part of the preparedness measures for handling wildlife conflicts.

Upon arrival in Pangkalan Gondai Village, the team immediately coordinated with the village secretary. They then proceeded to the village office to obtain initial information and the chronology of the incident as a first step in the further handling process. According to information provided by the village government, the victim was attacked by a honey bear while in his plantation. The animal reportedly attacked the victim from behind. The victim fought back, causing the bear to release its attack and flee the scene.

Although he managed to escape, the victim sustained injuries from the attack. Upon arriving home, the victim reportedly lost a significant amount of blood and eventually lost consciousness. The family immediately took the victim to Selasih Pangkalan Kerinci Hospital for medical treatment. The victim is currently under medical care, while the Riau BBKSDA team continues to coordinate with the village government, local authorities, and related parties to identify the cause of the conflict and determine mitigation measures to prevent similar incidents.

As a follow-up, on Thursday (6/8), the Riau BBKSDA WRU team, together with the village government and local authorities, installed a box trap around the incident location. This measure was taken to monitor the animal’s presence and as a mitigation effort should the bear re-enter areas that could endanger public safety. The Head of the Riau BBKSDA, Supartono, emphasised that public safety is the top priority in every wildlife conflict handling operation. He stated that every wildlife conflict report is followed up by deploying the WRU team to the field, with measured actions prioritising public safety while preserving protected wildlife. He added that coordination with local governments, security forces, and the community is ongoing to ensure effective mitigation.

The honey bear is a legally protected species, so conflict handling is carried out carefully, prioritising human safety while maintaining wildlife and habitat conservation. The Riau BBKSDA urged residents working in plantations or areas bordering wildlife habitats to increase vigilance, avoid working alone, and immediately report any sightings of wildlife near settlements or plantation areas to the BBKSDA or local authorities.