Aceh Govt Urged to Seek Solutions to Human-wildlife Conflicts

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A legislator has appealed to the Aceh provincial administration to seek solutions to human-wildlife conflicts that repeatedly occur in the province's several areas.

"The human-elephant conflict, for instance, still occurs. Solutions to this human-wildlife conflict must be sought," Yahdi Hasan, member of Aceh Province's legislative body, was quoted by ANTARA as saying here Sunday.

Hasan, who was elected to represent the constituents in the districts of Aceh Tenggara and Gayo Lues, said that the human-wildlife conflicts must be resolved without making both people and wild animals get suffered.

He argued that the conflicts occur owing to degradation and destruction of the wild animals' natural habitats that are partly contributed by human activities for harvesting natural resources to make a living.

"These human-wildlife conflicts must immediately be resolved to prevent both people and wild animals from getting dragged into an ongoing suffering," Hasan said.

In supporting the wildlife conservation in Aceh, Hasan urged authorities to probe several cases of dead wild animals, particularly Sumatran elephants, to know whether their deaths are caused by natural factors or activities of poachers seeking ivory and body parts.

If the deaths of the ill-fated Sumatran elephants are caused by the poachers' activities, the culprits must be brought to justice in an endeavor to save the mammals and other endangered animals, he added.

Over the past two years, the human-elephant conflicts have become a major conservation concern in Aceh and many other elephant range provinces in Sumatra Island.

In February 2019, at least 14 herds of wild Sumatran elephants had wandered in search of food in the areas of districts such as Tamiang, Pidie, Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, and Biruen.

According to the Head of the Lhokseumawe Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Dedi Irvansyah, around four up to five herds were found wandering around the forest areas of East Aceh and Tamiang Districts.

In North Aceh District, there were three herds of these herbivorous animals, while in the districts of Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, and Bireun, about four herds of wild elephants were also observed, he stated.

Meanwhile, in Pidie Jaya and Pidie Districts, two herds were reportedly observed, he noted, adding that each of the herds consisted of 15 to 20 wild animals.

Three herds of wild Sumatran elephants were also found wandering in search of food in the areas of North Aceh District`s Cot Girek, Matangkuli, and Langkahan Subdistricts.

Read also: COVID-19 Local Transmission Rises; Aceh Urged to Re-enforce PSBB 

ANTARA