Sumatran elephant conservation efforts expand through policy and AI

Conservation efforts for Sumatran elephants are intensifying through both policy advocacy and technological advancement in Indonesia. The Peusangan Elephant Conservation Coordination Forum (FK PECI) is calling for the urgent protection of elephant corridors in Aceh Province. Currently, only 21 of the original 42 corridors in Indonesia remain, a decline driven by land clearing and infrastructure development. FK PECI is urging the implementation of Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2026, which mandates mitigation measures such as wildlife tunnels for road construction and the provision of dedicated habitats and corridors by plantations.

Simultaneously, a joint committee at Way Kambas National Park is developing an artificial intelligence-based command center to enhance wildlife surveillance. This digital facility aims to map elephant migration routes, identify individual elephants using visual and GPS data, and prevent poaching. The AI system, supported by drone technology, will also serve as an early-warning tool to detect forest fires and forestry crimes in real time.