During The COVID-19 Pandemic, Wildlife Appears In Baluran National Park, Including Leopards

Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) Wiratno (Photo: Vicki Febrianto/Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) stated that during the pandemic as a result of the spread of the Corona virus, many wild animals appeared in a number of national parks. Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) KLHK Wiratno, in Malang Regency, East Java , Friday said that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing tourism activities to stop, so that many wildlife appeared. "Tourists are reduced, almost non-existent. In many national parks, showing interesting wildlife development. Usually not appearing, now appearing," said Wiratno.Wiratno explained that the appearance of these wild animals was reported to have occurred in Baluran National Park, in Situbondo Regency, East Java, and also in Meru Betiri National Park, in Jember Regency, and Banyuwangi Regency. in Baluran National Park, including a number of banteng, and leopards. The appearance of the clay animal was recorded on a camera trap. "In Baluran there are many thousands of deer appear on the roads that tourists usually pass. Then there are bulls there, including leopards. he said.

In addition, he continued, in protected forest areas in Indonesia, the appearance of wild animals was also reported. One of them is a leopard. The appearance of these wild animals is an indication that the existing fauna is still awake. According to him, the pandemic due to the Corona virus that first broke out in Wuhan, China, gives an indication that nature needs time to rest. By not being visited by many tourists, fauna can breed in peace. "So indeed this pandemic gives us an indication that nature needs to rest. When we rest, there are many opportunities for wild animals to breed in peace," he said. Learning from this experience, Wiratno continued, tourist visits to national parks must be managed properly, so as not to interfere with the preservation of nature, including the flora and fauna in it. "Visitors must be managed so that animals can live well," he said.