Beyond Fencing: Way Kambas Transforms How Sumatran Elephants Are Protected

There are 15 concrete observation posts and 10 modular two-story posts for monitoring the area. These facilities include a 43-meter-high watchtower, four ivory gates, and various monitoring equipment.

Field surveillance is strengthened with 15 drones, four patrol boats, 30 trail motorcycles, four double cabin 4x4 vehicles, and a four-wheeled vehicle.

Monitoring systems are increasingly using digital technology. Sriyanto mentioned that artificial intelligence-based systems can track elephant movements and help monitor animal conditions.

Thus, park management does not merely wait for elephants to leave the area before addressing conflicts. Animal movements are tracked, their basic needs fulfilled, and the boundaries between elephant habitats and human living spaces reinforced.

To support mobility and area supervision, 53,800 meters of concrete mattresses, 21,553 meters of embankment road surfacing, seven ARMCO bridges, and 38,982 meters of access roads have been constructed.

Sriyanto emphasized that this development must consider community interests and environmental functions.

"If it causes damage, that would be our violation. It must not be like that. The most important thing is that it benefits the residents," he said during discussions about mitigation infrastructure development.

Going forward, the program will focus on developing the Elephant Kitchen, building the PKG Command Center, converting researchers’ homes into elephant clinics, integrating the Elephant Response Unit (ERU), and adding several bridges to support park management.

Ultimately, the major task at Way Kambas is not just building barriers to prevent elephants from leaving. The challenge lies in ensuring elephants have adequate habitat and life necessities, while local communities can live and carry out activities without ongoing conflicts with wildlife.