press release Monitor the herd of Sumatran elephants via GPS

Pekanbaru, February 20^th, 2020 - A model of multistakeholder cooperation in saving the Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus Sumatranus) will be carried out in Riau Province. This collaboration is designed to reduce the vulnerability of Sumatran elephants due to conflict and poaching. Conservation efforts are carried out in an integrated manner from saving the population, to what is often forgotten, habitat development.

The initiative was realized following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PT. Chevron Pacific Indonesia (PT CPI) and the Indonesian Elephant Association (PGI) in Jakarta on Tuesday (18/2). The signing was carried out by PT CPI Senior Vice President Corporate Affairs Wahyu Budiarto and PGI Program Manager Wishnu Sukmantoro. "The collaboration to save the Sumatran Elephant is in harmony with one of our company's values, namely Protecting Humans and the Environment," Wahyu Budiarto said.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Director General of the Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems (KSDAE) KLHK Wiratno and the Head of the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) Suharyono. ’’ I hope that this multi-stakeholder collaboration could become a forerunner to the conservation of the Sumatran Elephant in other areas. Conservation efforts like this must become a joint movement, not only carried out by the government, "said Wiratno.

The cooperation between PT CPI - PGI includes the installation of three units of GPS Satellite Collar and eight units of camera traps, population monitoring, and habitat development. The installation of GPS Satellite Collar aims to identify and monitor movements of elephants through satellites so that potential conflicts with humans can be mitigated early. In addition, the tool can provide preliminary data as a basis for calculating elephant weight estimates. Meanwhile, a trap camera will be installed in the elephant crossing area to provide visual information.

The priority elephant group is the Balai Raja and Petapahan groups. According to Suharyono, the population of the Balai Raja group is estimated to be 25, with the rest in Giam Siak. In the Balai Raja area, elephant habitat with adequate forest cover left only 200 hectares in the Talang Forest managed by PT CPI. The herd of elephants also often crosses the housing of PT CPI employees in Duri. However, because the crossing of the elephant road at the housing was well maintained, conflicts with the residents could be avoided. The employees of PT CPI have also been provided with an understanding of what to do when meeting with these protected animals.

Meanwhile, the Petapahan group is estimated to have 11 tails exploring the area of the Minas Elephant Training Center (PLG) and the Sultan Syarif Hasim People's Forest Park (Tahura SSH). "Conflict potential with humans is quite high because the elephant's cruising area has turned into a plantation and settlement area," said Suharyono.

Another important element in this collaboration is habitat development. "One of the evaluation of elephant conservation in Indonesia in the last 10 years is the forgotten development of habitat. As a result, the rate of habitat degradation is getting higher, "Wishnu Sukmantoro said. Habitat development in the Talang Forest will be carried out through clearing weeds and making mineral blocks to reduce the intensity of conflicts in community gardens.

Other PT CPI social investment programs in the environmental sector include the Waste Bank Program in Pekanbaru, Bengkalis, and Siak in collaboration with Lancang Kuning University; mangrove conservation with the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN); and the Village Fire Concern Program in Siak and Rokan Hilir in collaboration with the Peat Restoration Agency.