Prabowo Allocates Presidential Assistance Funds for Way Kambas Elephant Fence Construction

President Prabowo Subianto will allocate presidential assistance funds (Banpres) for constructing a fence in the Way Kambas National Park area in Lampung. This policy is being implemented to address recurring conflicts between wild elephants and residents in the vicinity of the national park.

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that conflicts between residents and Sumatran elephants at Way Kambas continue to occur repeatedly. Wild elephants frequently exit the national park area and traverse villages, residential areas, and agricultural land belonging to residents.

“Most recently, several months ago, a village chief was trampled by an elephant. Because the elephant was attempting to enter or traverse villages, residential areas, and agricultural land. One village chief died as a result,” Raja Juli said after meeting Prabowo at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday, 12 March 2026.

As a mitigation measure, Prabowo has decided to allocate presidential assistance funds to construct barriers in the form of fences or canals that separate the Way Kambas National Park area from surrounding villages.

“He decided to allocate presidential assistance funds to construct a fence or canal that will fortify the boundary between Way Kambas National Park and the settlements or villages along Way Kambas National Park in Lampung,” he stated.

The construction of these barriers is currently in the trial and comprehensive study phase. The government will also study the experience of several countries, such as South Africa and India, in managing national parks and addressing human-wildlife conflicts.

“So it is possible there will be embankments in some locations, but there will also be fences made of very strong steel. Currently the strength is being tested,” he said.

“Along this embankment will also become a centre for community empowerment. For instance, in some external locations, this fence has become a centre for bee-keeping operations, where, once again, nature is preserved, wildlife is protected, and pasture agriculture is managed for livestock feed. However, this is also very beneficial for community development itself,” he added.