President Prabowo Prepares Presidential Instruction for Elephant Rescue, Forestry Minister: He Cares About Conservation

President Prabowo Subianto will prepare a Presidential Instruction (Inpres) to rescue the population and habitat of elephants. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that this measure demonstrates Prabowo’s commitment to wildlife conservation.

“A Presidential Instruction on Rescuing the Population and Habitat of Sumatran and Borneo Elephants will be issued. This once again shows that President Prabowo Subianto, as conservation activists have said, is the president in Indonesian history who cares most about conservation in Indonesia,” Raja Juli said after meeting Prabowo at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday (12 March 2026).

Raja Juli noted that many conservation activists, both from within and outside Indonesia, appreciate Prabowo’s commitment to protecting wildlife and national parks in the country. According to him, these activists view Prabowo as one of the presidents with the greatest attention to conservation issues.

“I have met with many international and Indonesian conservation activists, and they greatly appreciate it. They say that President Prabowo Subianto is the president who cares most about wildlife conservation and Indonesia’s national parks,” he said.

Further, Raja Juli explained that scientifically there were previously recorded 42 elephant habitat pockets in Indonesia. However, after he took office as Forestry Minister and conducted inspections, the number of habitat pockets has now dwindled to approximately 21.

“If there is no serious government intervention, then the destruction of these elephant habitat pockets is inevitable. Therefore, the elephant population, being one of Indonesia’s protected species and an iconic species, risks extinction,” he said.

Raja Juli also revealed that Prabowo had previously stated that elephants were his favourite animal. However, according to him, this rescue effort is not driven solely by personal preference, but because of the importance of protecting elephant populations and habitats in Indonesia.

“This Inpres will instruct relevant ministers to assist the Forestry Ministry in rescuing this elephant population,” he said.