Way Kambas National Park Closes Amid Elephant Conflicts

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Way Kambas National Park (TNWK) has temporarily closed all natural tourist attractions within its area starting today, January 16, 2026. Today coincides with the Isra Mikraj national holiday and the long weekend. However, the closure serves as a precaution against increasing conflict between elephants and residents around the conservation area.

"For the time being, natural tourism activities in Way Kambas National Park are closed," reads the announcement on the BTN Way Kambas Instagram account uploaded on Thursday, January 15, 2026. "We pay attention to the concerns of the community and focus on addressing the conflict of wild elephants that requires full attention," the statement added.

The management of BTN Way Kambas cited limited human resources in handling the ongoing conflict between elephants and humans. The temporary closure aims to maximize efforts to mitigate these disputes. "For the safety of wildlife, officers, and the surrounding community."

The policy is stipulated in Circular Letter Number SE.105/T.11/TU/HMS.01.08/B/01/2026, signed by the Head of Way Kambas National Park Office, MHD Zaidi, on Thursday. The letter noted the closure responds to high community concern and limited staff capacity in managing wild elephant encounters.

"During the closure, tourist activities are suspended, except for research, internships, and education," said Zaidi in the circular letter.

He stated that the closure refers to several regulations, including government rules on natural tourism development, Minister of Environment and Forestry regulations, and circulars from the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation regarding the management of attractions and elephant utilization in TN Way Kambas.

The closure occurs amid tensions in the national park's buffer zone in East Lampung. Previously, thousands of residents from the Alliance of Buffer Zone Villages staged a demonstration on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. They held a long march with posters demanding, "Stop Elephant and Human Conflict," and "We do not oppose the elephants, we just want to protect our fields. If TNWK cannot carry out conservation, just return the elephants to their original habitat."

They also displayed a photo of the late Head of Braja Asri Village, Darusman, who was killed by a wild elephant in late December 2025 while herding a group away from farmland. "Friends, we come here to seek justice because our agricultural plants were destroyed," said Budi, one of the protest orators, quoted from Antara.

According to another orator, the conflict between Way Kambas' elephants and village communities has lasted decades. "Since birth, we have been in conflict with the elephants. Our village head became a victim, our parents became victims, we do not want to be victims again," he said.

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