National Police Chief and Titiek Soeharto Inspect Tesso Nilo, Ensure Sumatran Elephant Conservation is Secure

JAKARTA — The National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, accompanied by Commission IV chairperson Siti Hediati Hariyadi (Titiek Soeharto), inspected the elephant conservation area at Tesso Nilo National Park in Riau on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.

During the visit, the National Police Chief ensured that forest habitat restoration efforts for elephants were proceeding safely and smoothly. He emphasised that this action reflected President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to protecting endangered wildlife, particularly Sumatran elephants.

“The Riau Forestry Service informed us that the elephant population in this area has become extremely small, and the habitat and space must be restored,” the National Police Chief stated on Tuesday.

He also reinforced the National Police’s commitment to protecting forest areas and taking firm action against wildlife crimes and environmental destruction. Sigit commended the swift response by the Riau Police in uncovering cases of elephant deaths and ivory theft.

“We need firm action so that the remaining small elephant population is truly protected and preserved, and the conservation area is appropriately sized for the elephant population to thrive,” he said.

Meanwhile, Titiek Soeharto emphasised the importance of restoring Tesso Nilo’s function as a national park serving as habitat for flora and fauna.

“Given President Prabowo’s strong commitment, Tesso Nilo National Park must be restored to its function as a national park, primarily as a habitat for elephants that we must protect,” she explained.

Titiek also urged that the area’s reorganisation, including the relocation of residents living within the national park boundaries, be conducted humanely. She called on the government to prepare relocation sites before relocating residents.

“We should not evict people without preparation. We must jointly protect both the national park and the people living within it,” she said.

Additionally, Titiek highlighted the shortage of forest police assigned to the area. She therefore urged collaboration between the Ministry of Forestry and the National Police to strengthen security in the conservation zone.

“The area covers 81,000 hectares, yet there are only 23 forest police officers here. How can they oversee such a vast area? Perhaps we could ask the Police Chief to deploy additional personnel from the Regional Police Command to help monitor and protect the national park,” she concluded.