Riau, April 21, 2025 — A devastating fire swept through one of Sumatra’s most critical conservation areas. Five hectares of land inside Tesso Nilo National Park (TNTN), located in Pelalawan Regency, Riau, were engulfed in flames on Saturday night (April 19). This is not just any land—it is home to the critically endangered Sumatran elephants and tigers.
🔍 What Really Happened?
According to Heru Sutmantoro, the Head of TNTN, the fire was first detected by local residents and park rangers. The burned area was mineral soil, which has long been vulnerable to illegal encroachment. “The land used to be forest, then became shrubland, and now it’s being cleared again,” Heru said.
Shockingly, the land was illegally encroached upon by local communities using traditional methods—with the intent of turning it into oil palm plantations. Their tactic? Waiting for patrol officers to finish their rounds before quickly clearing the land. “It’s like a cat-and-mouse game. Once our officers return, they move in to open up the area,” Heru explained.
🐘🐅 Home to Elephants and Tigers, Now in Flames
TNTN is one of the last strongholds for the Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) and the Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus), both critically endangered species. These animals rely heavily on lowland forests like those in Tesso Nilo for their survival. With ongoing deforestation, their habitat continues to shrink, leading to rising human-wildlife conflict.
Global Forest Watch data shows that since the early 2000s, over 60% of forest cover in TNTN has been lost, primarily due to illegal conversion into oil palm plantations—often by individuals or unregulated companies.
🚒 Firefighting and Law Enforcement Challenges
Fire suppression efforts were hampered by difficult terrain and lack of access. Fortunately, heavy rainfall helped bring the blaze under control. However, there has been no official statement from police authorities regarding a criminal investigation. The question remains: Was this an accident—or deliberate land clearing by fire?
🌍 Hotspot Trends and the Need for Better Fire Management
This is not an isolated incident. Riau has long been a hotspot epicenter in Indonesia during dry seasons. Data from NASA’s FIRMS platform indicates an uptick in hotspot activity within TNTN since early April 2025.
Experts emphasize the urgent need for implementing Integrated Fire Management (IFM)—a holistic strategy championed by the Global Fire Management Hub (GFMC–FAO). This includes prevention, preparedness, rapid response, and post-fire restoration, all while actively involving local communities and improving land governance.
✋ Time to Stop Repeating the Same Mistakes
Events like this must serve as a wake-up call. Conservation areas are not “idle land” waiting to be exploited—they are life-supporting ecosystems, for wildlife and for us. If we continue to ignore illegal burning and land grabbing, it’s not just elephants and tigers at risk—we are destroying our own future.
Link Source: https://www.merdeka.com/peristiwa/kobaran-api-besar-di-kawasan-habitat-gajah-dan-harimau-di-riau-terbakar-atau-dibakar-381496-mvk.html