Sun Bear Attacks Resident in Riau, Conservation Agency Deploys Wildlife Rescue Team
The Ministry of Forestry, through the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA), has moved swiftly to follow up on a reported conflict between a wild sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) and a resident of Pangkalan Gondai village, Langgam district, Pelalawan regency, Riau province.
Immediately after receiving the report, BBKSDA Riau dispatched a Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) team from Pekanbaru to the scene on Wednesday (5/8). The team brought a box trap as part of preparedness measures for handling wildlife conflict.
Upon arriving in Pangkalan Gondai village, the team coordinated with the village secretary. They then proceeded to the village office to obtain initial information and a chronology of the incident as a first step in the handling process.
According to information provided by the village government, the victim was attacked by a sun bear while on his own plantation.
The animal reportedly attacked the victim from behind. The victim fought back, causing the bear to release its grip 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. Family members immediately took him to Selasih Pangkalan Kerinci Hospital for medical treatment.
The victim is currently under medical care, while the BBKSDA Riau team continues to coordinate with the village government, local authorities, and relevant 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 BBKSDA Riau WRU team, together with the village government and local authorities, installed a box trap near the incident site.
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.
Head of BBKSDA Riau, Supartono, stressed that public safety is the top priority in every wildlife conflict response.
“Every wildlife conflict report is followed up by deploying a WRU team to the field. Handling is carried out in a measured manner, prioritising public safety while preserving protected wildlife. We also continue to coordinate with regional governments, security forces, and the community so that mitigation measures can run effectively,” said Supartono on Thursday (6/8).
Sun bears are a protected species under Indonesian law. Therefore, conflict handling is carried out carefully, prioritising human safety while maintaining the conservation of the species and its habitat.
BBKSDA Riau urges residents working on plantations or in areas bordering wildlife habitats to increase vigilance, avoid working alone, and immediately report to BBKSDA Riau or local authorities if they encounter wildlife near settlements or plantation areas.
“The Ministry of Forestry, under the leadership of Minister Raja Juli Antoni, remains committed to strengthening human-wildlife conflict mitigation through rapid, collaborative, and conservation-based handling, so that public safety is maintained without neglecting the protection of Indonesia’s biodiversity,” he concluded.