JAKARTA - The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) will build a number of elephant corridors to connect two bags of Sumatran elephant habitat (Elephas maximus sumatranus) which were cut off in Bentang Seblat, Bengkulu.
The Minister of Forestry (Menhut), Raja Juli Antoni, said he would strengthen the protection of the Seblat-Air Water Seblat-Air Rami Corridor which had been agreed to be 2,217 hectares and 53 km long which was very important to connect the movement of wild elephants in Seblat.
"The current condition shows that the elephant's pocket has been fragmented. For this reason, the Ministry of Forestry will build several elephant corridors to connect two separate bags," said Minister of Forestry as reported by ANTARA, Friday, December 12.
He stated that the construction of corridors is a priority for long-term national policies. The corridors will connect population pockets to maintain animal movement routes, reduce potential conflicts, and ensure the sustainability of the Sumatran elephant population.
"In today's facts, the elephant's pocket has been fragmented. At least, currently there are 12 bags that will be connected to the elephant corridor," he continued.
During a review of Bentang Seblat in Bengkulu, Thursday (11/12) he also highlighted the need for the revitalization of the Seblat Natural Tourism Park (TWA) Elephant Training Center (PLG) which currently manages 10 individual elephants with an age range of 15-48 years. All elephants are the result of handling conflicts or saving animals.
Since 1995 the area has undergone several changes in function until it was finally designated TWA Seblat in 2011 with an area of about 7,732.80 hectares.
Strengthening the TWA Seblat PLG is prioritized to make it a modern conservation center with a focus on improving facilities, improving animal management standards, and developing educational functions for the community.
Revitalization is directed so that PLG TWA Seblat is not only the location for elephant rescue care, but also the center for learning about ecology, animal behavior, and the importance of maintaining natural balance for current and future generations.
The Ministry of Transportation targets the revitalization of the TWA Seblat PLG through several steps, including improving home facilities and elephant training areas, providing educational centers and public information, structuring animal interpretation pathways, developing community-based ecotourism around the TWA, strengthening programs for mitigating conflicts between animals and humans.
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