Supporting Prabowo's Decree, Riau Police Commit to Elephant Conservation Through Green Policing
Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan visited the Minas Elephant Training Centre (PLG) in Siak as a show of full support for the implementation of Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 8 of 2026. Embracing the spirit of Green Policing, the Riau Regional Police affirmed its commitment to supporting environmental protection through a law enforcement approach oriented towards nature conservation.
During the visit on Friday, 10 July 2026, the Riau Police Chief was accompanied by the Head of the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA), Supartono. On that occasion, Inspector General Herry Heryawan interacted directly with the elephants at PLG Minas: Dayang, Diego, Vera, and Togar.
The Police Chief also took time to feed the elephants, signifying closeness, care, and attention towards nature and its biological wealth. The visit further strengthened the Riau Police Chief’s support for the implementation of President Prabowo Subianto’s policy to protect endangered wildlife and their habitats, particularly the Sumatran elephant.
The Police Chief emphasised that the Riau Regional Police are ready to fully support the implementation of the presidential instruction through law enforcement against illegal hunting and wildlife trade, habitat protection, handling human-elephant conflict, and strengthening collaboration with the government, relevant ministries, and all stakeholders.
“The National Police, particularly the Riau Regional Police, are ready to fully support the implementation of this Presidential Instruction through law enforcement, habitat protection, conflict handling, and collaboration with all parties for the future of elephants and the preservation of Indonesia’s nature,” said Inspector General Herry Heryawan on Saturday (11/7/2026).
Through the spirit of Green Policing, the Riau Regional Police affirmed its commitment to continue supporting environmental protection through a law enforcement approach oriented towards nature conservation. “Together we protect elephants, protect nature, protect the future,” Herry Heryawan added.
For context, Prabowo Subianto issued Presidential Instruction No. 8 of 2026 on 15 June 2026 concerning the Acceleration of Protection and Rescue of the Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) and Bornean Elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) Populations and Habitats. This instruction was issued to respond to threats to the survival of these key species by involving cross-sectoral and relevant ministerial efforts so that conservation runs in tandem with regional development.
The instruction contains six points, including a moratorium on issuing new permits in elephant habitat areas, protection and integration of habitats into spatial planning, development of wildlife-friendly infrastructure, handling human-elephant conflict through law enforcement, and strengthening funding and supervision. The rescue efforts cover 21 Sumatran elephant habitat landscapes covering approximately 5.4 million hectares and one Bornean elephant landscape covering around 19,000 hectares.