National Police Chief Supports President's Efforts to Rehabilitate Tesso Nilo National Park, Restore Elephant Population
National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has affirmed the National Police’s full commitment to supporting President Prabowo Subianto’s initiative to rehabilitate Tesso Nilo National Park (TNTN) in Riau Province. The effort aims to restore the area’s function as primary habitat for the increasingly threatened Sumatran elephant population.
General Sigit conveyed this message during a visit to the Elephant Flying Squad Camp at TNTN in Pelalawan Regency on Tuesday, 17 March 2026. The inspection was also attended by Siti Hediati Hariyadi (Titiek Soeharto), Chairwoman of Commission IV of the House of Representatives, and Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni.
Also present were senior officials from National Police headquarters, including the Commander of Intelligence and Security Command General Yuda Gustawan, the Chief of Criminal Investigation General Syahardiantono, and the Commander of the Mobile Brigade General Ramdani Hidayat.
General Sigit explained that the President has special attention to wildlife preservation, particularly in ensuring Sumatran elephants regain their living space within the conservation area. He emphasised the importance of restoring the function of the 81,000-hectare TNTN forest.
“The President has special concern about restoring elephant populations to live again in conservation areas. The 81,000-hectare area, which has undergone illegal land conversion, must certainly be returned to become elephant habitat,” General Sigit stated firmly.
The National Police Chief added that the availability of suitable habitat is crucial so that the currently dwindling elephant population can breed properly without disturbance from illegal land conversion.
On the same occasion, the National Police Chief also expressed appreciation to Riau’s Regional Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan and his team for comprehensively resolving cases of elephant killings carried out to harvest their tusks. General Sigit ordered that stern action continue to be taken without exception against those committing wildlife crimes.
“I thank the Regional Police Chief who some time ago also enforced the law against the killing of one of the elephant populations to take their tusks. And I have received reports that it has been fully investigated and will be explained,” General Sigit said.
“Clearly, I express appreciation and ask that firm action be taken so that the remaining small elephant population can truly be preserved and protected, and then the conservation area can be developed according to the elephant population so it can grow. Thank you,” he added.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni expressed high appreciation for the National Police Chief’s presence and that of Titiek Soeharto. According to him, this represents a historic moment as it is the first time a National Police Chief and the Chairwoman of Commission IV of the House of Representatives have visited the national park directly.
“For us this is quite encouraging because politically the Chairwoman of Commission IV is our partner in the House of Representatives, meaning we have very strong political support. And the presence of the National Police Chief for law enforcement is also extraordinary, signalling that by working together, we can improve Tesso Nilo National Park together,” Raja Juli said.
This visit is hoped to mark a turning point in the rehabilitation of TNTN and the protection of wildlife in Riau. Political support from the House of Representatives and law enforcement support from the National Police form the main pillars in executing the President’s instruction to save the Sumatran elephant.