Minister of Forestry inspects wildfire response in Padang Sugihan

Indonesian Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni visited the Padang Sugihan Wildlife Sanctuary in South Sumatra to oversee forest and land fire (karhutla) management. During the visit to the Jalur 21 Elephant Conservation Center, the Minister inspected 29 Sumatran elephants, confirming they remain in good health and have not been negatively impacted by smoke exposure.

Minister Antoni emphasized that wildlife protection must occur alongside firefighting efforts, noting that animals are particularly vulnerable as they cannot seek help during disasters. He has ordered the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) across various regions to strengthen protections for wildlife during active fire incidents.

The firefighting operations in the Padang Sugihan area, which borders the Ogan Komering Ilir Regency, involve a multi-agency collaboration including the Ministry of Forestry, BKSDA South Sumatra, Manggala Agni, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and various national park authorities.