Human Elephant Conflict Mitigation, Riau Province of Sumatra WWF-Indonesia - Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA) July 2004, draft

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LIST OF ACRONYMS

Ca. : Cagar Alam (Nature reserve) Dephut : Departemen Kehutanan (Forestry Department) Ditjen PHKA : Direktorat Jendera lPerlindungan Hutan dan Konservasi Alam (General Directorate of Forest Protection and Natural Conservation) DPRD : Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah (Privincial Parliament) HL : Hutan Lindung (Protection forest) HP : Hutan Produksi (Production Forest HPH : Hak Penguasaan Hutan (Logging Concession) HPHTI : Hak Penguasaan Hutan Tanaman Industri (Industrial Timber

Plantation Concession) HPT : Hutan Produksi Terbatas (Limited Production Forest) Kab. : Kabupaten (District) KMG : Konflik Manusia dan Gajah (Human Elephant Conflict Mitigation) KSDA : Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (Natural Resources Conservation) LSM : Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat (Non-Goverment Organization) Pemda : Pemerintah Daerah (Local Goverment) PKG : Pusat Konservasi Gajah (Elephants Conservation Center) PLG : Pusat Latihan Gajah (Elephants Training Center) SM : Suaka Margasatwa (Game Reserve) TN : Taman Nasional (National Park) WWF : World Wide Fund for Nature

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List of Contents

List of Acronyms .…..............................................................................................…….....… i List of Contents .…..................................................................................…............….....… ii List of Appendix .…..........................................................................................................… iii I. INTRODUCTION ………....................................................................................................… 1

A. Elephant Population in Riau ..................................................................................… 1 B. Human –Elephant Conflicts Situation .......................................................… 1 C. Threats Toward Elephants .................................................................................… 2

II. STRATEGY DIRECTION FOR SAVING ELEPHANT .….……........................................… 3 III. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY FOR SAVING ELEPHANT .....…..............................… 4

A. Elephant Habitat Management ..................................................................… 4 B. Human Elephant Conflict Mitigation ...................................................................… 4

IV. INCIDENCES MANAGEMENT .….............................................................................… 10 V. GIVING COMPENSATION TO COMMUNITY THAT ENCOUNTER LOSS DUE

TO THE CONFLICT .…..........................................................................................................… 11 A. Condition for Giving Compensation ....................................................................… 11 B. Stages and assessment for compensation giving process ........................… 11

VI. ELEPHANT CONSERVATION CENTRE MANAGEMENT .......................................… 12

Appendix …........…………………………............…………..................................................... 14

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List of Appendix 1. The 16 Elephant Population Pouches in Riau, Year 2003 …....................................... 14

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I. INTRODUCTION A. Elephant Population in Riau 1. 1985 In 1985, Raleigh A. Blouch and Kuppin Simbolon, had identified 11 pouches of elephant’s movement areas in Riau. The areas included Torgamba, Tanjung Medan, the northern part of central Riau , Koto Panjang, Lipat Kain, Langgam, The southern part of Central Riau, Buatan, Siak Kecil, Dataran Rendah Rokan. The total population of the mammals was roughly estimated as many as 1,067 and 1,617. This is the highest number of population from the whole provinces in Sumatra. 2. 1999 In 1999, based on Riau Natural Resources Conservation Service/ KSDA’s observation on the field ( Riau Forestry Service Report, July 2000), it was reported that there were 16 pouches of elephants population in Riau: Siak Kecil Game Reserve, Limited Production Forests of Minas, Mandau, and Bukit Kapur: Kerumutan Game Reserve, Bukit Rimbang Bukit Baling Game Reserve, Balai Raja Game Reserve, Limited Production Forests of Tesso Nilo, Air Hitam and Baserah; Bukit Tigapuluh National Park; Serangge-Sekilo Limited Production Forest, Hapayan Boneng Forest Clusters, Mahato, Bagan Siapi-api Production Forest,Sungai Gangsal, Keritang Limited Production Forest, Tanjung Pauh Limited Production Forest, Batu Gajah Limited Production Forest, Bukit Suligi Limited Production Forest, and Tanjung Medang Production Forest. These pouches need specific attention. 3. 2003 In 2003 based on data collected from field survey conducted by WWF and Riau KSDA ( Natural Resources Conservation Service) together with other secondary data, the population of elephants was estimated between 353 to 431. Elephant population pouches in Sungai Gangsal, Keritang Limited Production Forest presumably have dissapeared, and population pouches in Kerumutan untill now still cannot be identified for certain. There were two population pouches which conditions can be classified as critical, they are: in east west of Tesso Nilo and around PLTA (hydro electricity plant) Koto Panjang with estimation of population between 14 to 18 elephants. Another 3 population pouches encounter very critical condition located around Tapung area, Batu Gajah, and Rambah Hilir with estimation of population 70 to 85 elephants. B. Human –Elephant Conflicts Situation Human Elephant Conflicts (HEC) that occurs in elephant population pouches tends to increase countinously. There are two different attitudes appear in communities in facing HEC. First, They do not care with HEC and consider HEC as a comon mattter that they face year to year. They tend not to be reactive toward elephants. They manage the handling by doing actitvities such as opening land for cultivation in groups, doing night watch patrol by making fire camp and when elephants approach they try to chase away by making some sounds and bringing torch. Second, they are reactive toward the conflicts happend. Elephants tend to be treated as the ones to be blamed. This situation is triggered by occurences of conflict that the frequency and distribution increase year to year, besides number of investation loss due to the raid

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caused by elephants. The only solution this group of people bear in mind is that elephant must be removed in whatever way thus this condition often causes elephants found death intentionally or unintentionally. In another side this conflict is brought as an issue by certain parties to gain some benefit that by removing elephants, the remaining forest will be obtained then can be converted into plantation. Judging from the progress of conflict handlings that have been done, it can be concluded that the handlings in the field are still considered as temporare and partial. Systematic and overall handling for the future framework have not been done yet. C. Threats Toward Elephants Situation that causes elephants threatened is the increasing natural forest conversion that ideally should be the habitat for elephants. Elephants that previuosly lived in a big family are fragmented into smaller family units to adapt with the condition of the environment. The fragmented condition causes wider Human-Elephant Conflict distribution and often occurs almost in the same time. Human Elephant Conflict does not only bring loss to human but also to elephants themselves with varieties of conflict handling done by community that often harm the elephants. In 1996, 12 elephants were poisoned to death in a palm plantation. On May 2002, 17 elephants were poisoned to death in community farming. Still in 2002 at least there were 3 elephants died in three different locations. Not to mention elephants that have conflict and died having been captured, and other death ca uses that are not identified. Elephant hunting activities for tusk trade presumably have been increasing although exact figure has never been confirmed. Elephant hunting activities in the future are predicted to be greater in number regarding the fact that high commercial value animals such as tiger is getting more difficult to be hunted. There is a probability that these hunters will change their target to elephants since this activity is easier to be done. Seeing the existing threat condition, efforts to avoid the decreasing of elephant population need to be done by considerring community interest living in the vicinity of elephant habitat.

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II. STRATEGY DIRECTION FOR SAVING ELEPHANT In general strategy for saving elephant in future aims at that elephants can live securedly in their habitat thus they will not cause conflict to human interest. The scope for saving elephant strategy comprises ---- HABITAT MANAGEMENT ------- HUMAN AND ELEPHANT CONFLICT MITIGATION , INCIDENCES HANDLING THAT HARM ELEPHANTS IN THEIR HABITAT also ELEPHANT TRAINING CENTRE MANAGEMENT. The scope for this strategy is a series of related supportive activities. In the implementation this activity cannot be based solely on a problem. It means that saving elephants does not only manage the habitat or how to mitigate the conflict but it must heed other aspects such as management in elephant training centre. In certain condition, if wild elephant capture must be done, what should be considered into priority is the threatened elephants and the habitat which condition is no more conducive to support the life of existing elephants. In another side elephants that located in Elephant Training Centre also can be trained and used to maintain the intact of other elephant habitats.

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III. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY FOR SAVING ELEPHANT A. Elephant Habitat Management 1. Identification of habitat condition, existing elephants and the movement, and the

conflict. Habitat identification aims to find out the condition of elephants’ living environtment whether it is still reliable and sufficient for further elephant development. Identification must also cover the attitudes of elephants needed for habitat management. The redundant food supply, capacity, water supply and water resources, and also field shape in habitat needs to be recorded thus it can be used as a consideration for decision making of the elephant saving framework. The status of Population and movement of every elephant herd in their habitat, and also existing problems and threats need to be monitored and reviewed in certain periode of time. The data recording and renewing is also required as a consideration for decision making in regard to saving the elephants. Habitat condition and elephant population inventory in the field can be used to classify critical condition of elephant sustainability in the field. The population classification of the existing elephant pouches in Riau can be categorized as very crtitcal, critical, and secured ( according to habitat condition from each elephant herd). The diference in classification will result in different ways of handling. 2. Habitat building Habitat building is required in order to keep the intact of the area including the redundant of food so that the capacity of the area over elephants’ life can be maintained. Land rehabilitation in the locations where the vegetations have been critical is required to be done. Important things need to be obtained in relation to habitat building for elephants such as strengthening habitat function and promoting the legality of the area status. Efforts to promote the area status must be done at maximum at least becoming protected area. The promotion of the area status aims at avoiding the area converted into non forest land. Then this area must be managed intensively starting from earmarking area boundaries, securing the area from illegal logging and encroaching activities and conducting some efforts for avoiding the occurrence of Human Elephant Conflict. B. Human Elephant Conflict Mitigation 1. Human Elephant Conflict Mitigation The occurence of human elephant conflict must be understood as the result of the overlapping on spatial use between human and elephants. In general the available choice is making physical barrier to restrain the elephant movement that may cause conflict to human. Another choice is by translocating the elephants. Technically elephant conflict handling must be judged systematically and well planned. Human or communities that do their activities in the locations where conflict may occur must be well prepared by considering the risk of conflict occurences in each of their investment. Based on rapid analysis in areas that had been identified as elephant population pouches, sistematic conflict handling can be done in four ways: First, long term conflict handling, such as land use change or bufferzone management, and also habitat building. Second, Direct conflict handling in the field.

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Third, Increase the understanding of the community to handle the conflict by themselves without harming the elephants through trainings on practical techniques on handling conflict in the field. Fourth, Giving compensation to the communities that encounter the conflict through several consideration phases and assessment at specific conditions so that they deserve to get compensation. The Implementation of Human Elephant Conflict handling must be done in an integrated and total activity. One way of reducing conflict must support the other ways and also must involve all related stakeholders. 2. Conflict handling

a. Long term

The prioritized areas for the implementation of long term conflict handling are the areas that still possess relatively large forest and elephants still make use of the forests as their main habitat. The temporary proposed areas are Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, Bukit Batabuh and the surrounding areas, Kerumutan Game Reserve and the surrounding, Tesso Nilo conservation area and the surrounding, Bukit Rimbang and Bukit Baling Game Reserve, Bukit Bungkuk sanctuary and the surrounding, Sultan Syarif Kasim Grand Forest Park and the surrounding, Bukit Suligi Production Forest and the surounding, Batu Gajah Limited Production Forest and also Ampayan Bonang forest clusters and the surrounding, Libo block forest area (comprising of some concessions), Balai raja Game reserve, Giam Siak Kecil Game Reserve and the surrounding, Mahato Protection Forest and the surounding.

b. Directly in the field

Based on rapid analysis done in elephant population pouches, some activities for handling can be described as follo w: i. In very critical population pouches, the handling activities needed:

- Habitat and bufferzone building - Several Human Elephant Conflict handling activities in the field without capturing

elephants. - Doing elephant capture for translocating purpose. - Doing elephant capture for the purpose of relocating them in Elephant Training

Centre.

Through observation and rapid analysis done in the areas which are identified as elephant habitats and classified into very critical conflict condition, the areas found to be distributed in :

No Names of Locations Becoming Elephant Movement Area Estimation of

population number

01

Minas area, Muara Pajar (in the north of Tapung river, Petapahan, Palas ; Koto Garo ; in the west of asphalt road, oil palm plantation of Pt. Bina Fitri, Sultan Syarif Kasim Grand Forest Parkb (Kampar District, Pekanbaru Municipality).

20 – 25

02

Batu Gajah Limited Production Forest area ; Suram area, Kasikan, Lancang lake, Kota Lama, Tapung ; plantation of Pt. Subur harum makmur, Pt Arindo trisejahtera ; Kalam Ampayan Bonang forest clusters ; and concession of Pt. Mandau Abadi (Kampar District and Rokan Hulu District).

20 – 25

03 KotoTangah area, Rambah Hilir, Kepenuhan, Ulak Patian, Kasimang Transmigration SPD ; oil palm plantation of Pt. Eluan Mahkota ; PT Sumber Jaya Indah Nusa Coy Kampar District and Rokan Hulu.

30 – 35

Estimation of total Population 70–85

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ii. Population pouches classified as critical: the handling activities to be done are: - Habitat and its Bufferzone building - Various Human Elephant Conflict handling activities in the field without capturing

elephants. - Elephant capturing for translocation purposes.

Through rapid analysis done in areas identified as elephant habitat and which conflict condition classified into critical, the areas found to be distributed in:

No Names of location becoming elephant movemet area Estimation of

poplation number

01

Sentajo area, Koto Baru, Petai, F-9 area (transmigration area), Subarak, Lipat Kain, Gunung Sahilan (areas in the eastern part of Taluk Kuantan – Pekanbaru highway) PT Surya agro Leksa oilpalm plantation, PT Riau Pulp Industrial Timber Concession in West Tesso (Kuantan Singingi and Kampar District)

8 – 10

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Bukit Suligi Protection forest, Pulau Gadang, Batu Langkah, Koto Mesjid ; around hydro electrical plant Koto Panjang area (District XIII, Koto Kampar, Kampar District) sekitar lokasi areal Kota Panjang Electricity Power Plant ((Kec. XIII Koto Kampar, Kab. Kampar)

6 – 8

Estimation of Total Population 14 – 18

iii. Population pouches classified secured (Not critical), the handling activities done are: - Habitat and its bufferzone management - Several Human Elephant Conflict handling activities in the field without capturing

elephants

Areas which conflict condition and elephant security classified not critical distributed in :

No Names of location becoming elephant movement area Estimation of

population number

01

Bukit Tigapuluh National Park area ; Serangge Sengkilo Limited Production Forest; Pt. Rimba Lazuardi Industrial Timber Plantation ; also Pesajian area, Serangge, Punti Anai, and Pesikaian (Peranap sub district , Indragiri Hulu district and Kuantan Mudik Sub-District Kuantan Singingi District).

60 – 70

02 Kukok area , Banjar Benai, and Seberang Taluk ; Pt. Riaupulp concession (Kuantan Tengah District Kuantan Singingi District). 3 – 5

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Tesso Nilo Limited Production Forest area in South East, ex Pt. Inhutani IV concession, and some part of PT Nanjak Makmur logging concession: the areas of Baserah , Kelayang, Pasir Penyu, and Ukui (Indragiri Hulu District and Pelalawan).

40 – 50

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Tesso Nilo Limited Production Forest in Northern part , Pt. Siak Raya Logging concession, Pt. Hutani Sola Lestari, and some parts of Pt. Nanjak Makmur Logging concession ; areas of Gondai, Segati, and Rantau Kasih (Pelalawan District and Kampar District).

20 – 30

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Areas of Jake, Muara Lembu, Pulau Padang, Petai, Kuntu, Padang sawah (in western part of Taluk Kuantan – Pekanbaru highway) ; HTI Pt. Riaulpulp Industrial Timber Plantation South Logas sector ; Bukit Rimbang Bukit Baling Game Reserve (Singingi sub district, Kuansing disrict Kampar Kiri Sub District , Kampar District).

16 – 18

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Pt. Perawang Sukses Perkasa Industri Industrial Timber Plantation area ; Areas of Ridham, Kuok, and Kebun Durian ; also Pt. Ciliandra Perkasa oilpalm plantation ; Bukit Bungkuk sanctuary (Kampar Kiri subdistrict and Bangking, Kampar District).

18 – 20

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No Names of location becoming elephant movement area Estimation of

population number

07 Giam Siak Kecil Game Reserve ; areas of Mandau, Penaso, Kandis, Sebangar duri 13, Tasik Serai, and Sebanga (Bengkalis dan Siak). 40 – 46

08 Areas of Sam Sam Pinggir, Kopelapip, Tegar, Petani, Rangau ; Pt Rokan Permai Timber Logging Concession ; Balai Raja Game Reserve (Bengkalis District and Siak District).

40 – 50

09 Mahato Protection Forest and area of Tanjung Medan (Rokan Hulu and Rokan Hilir Districts). 20 – 25

10 Areas of Jumrah, Teluk Pulau, Langgadaihulu ; Bagan Siapi-api Production Forest (Rokan Hulu District)

12 – 14

11 Kerumutan Game Reserve (Pelalawan District) ?

Estimation of Total Population 269 – 328

Elephant conflict handling actvities in the field which are done without capturing activities must cover all available techniques. The techniques vary from guarding the farmland to driving back elephants using trained elephants and these techniques must be optimalized and combined in the implementation. Techniques that have ever been done by the communities on self support basis, and tehcniques that were introduced must be trained by the experts in order to be combined, implemented and monitored so that the successes and the failure can be assesed and will be used as the basis for the improvement for further activities.

c. Through Capturing

Human Elephant Conflict mitigation through capturing is the last choice if the condition compels and there is no other alternatives that can be done. Thus If capturing must be done , the activities must aim at two different purposes: capturing for translocating, and capturing to be located in Elephant Training Centre. Some prerequisites that must be considered in deciding to conduct capturing are :

i. Translocating

Capturing done for translocating needs to consider some points: First, Judging from the elephant side. Why elephant must be captured and

translocated. Second, Judging from the habitat side. How the habitat accomodate capacity to

elephants. Third, Judging from the translocating site. Can the translocating site guarantee

security for elephants and human being that live in the vicinity. Fourth, Judging from procedures and ability to do capturing, transporting, releasing,

and financing. Have the activities met the prerequisites so that elephants that are translocated will not experience injury,or stress that may cause something fatal or death to elephants.

Fifth, Judging from monitoring done after the release. Can the monitoring be done effectively ( who, how, and financial support).

Sixth, Judging from the authority to decide the capturing: Do Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Directorate General and local government decide based on analysis result and recommendation from Assesment Team that was established over agreement between authority holders (Local government, and Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Directorate General)

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Assesment Team that gives analysis and recommendation can be established and called Elephant Conflict Handling Assesment Team. The members comprise permanent and non permanent members. Permanent members consist of Provincial BKSDA staff, Provincial Forestry Service staff, NGO. Non Permanent members appointed based on the area where conflict occurs that in general may consist of District Social Service Staff, District Forestry Service Staff, District Parliament Members from related commission. This Assessment team appointed based on Governor decree.

ii. Placed in Elephant Training Centre The capturing done to be placed in Elephant Training Centre needs to consider some points as follow: First, Judging from elephant side. Why must be captured and placed in Elephant

Training Centre (ETC). Second, Judging from habitat side. How the habitat accomodate capacity to

elephants. Third, Judging from the procedures and abilities to do capturing, transporting,

releasing, and financing. Have the activities met the prerequisites and conditions so that elephants that will be brought to Elephant Training Centre will not experience injury and stress that can cause death.

Fourth, Judging from the ETC preparedness. Can ETC afford more elephants and nurse them (taming them and training them) so that elephants in ETC will not be neglected. The preparedness of ETC also covers the financial capability that must be allocated to assure the life of elephants as long as they live.

Fifth, Judging from the authorities that decide the capturing: Do Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Directorate General and Local Government decide the capturing having based on analysis and recommendation from Assesment Team. Assesment Team is established through Governor decree which membership is the same with Capturing Assessment Team for translocation purposes.

3. Increasing community understanding in handling conflict The selected action in order to be able mitigate conflict appropriately and efficiently must be based on the condition of the location and the attitudes of the elephants themselves. Some activities that can be done in conflict handling process: making physical barriers, knowing early the arrival of elephants and conducting guarding activities, driving back elephants out from community farming land, changing crop commodity. Each activity in reducing conflict is not a united activities that stand separately but is more to series and combination of activities. Community that often encounter conflicts with elephants or that is potential for experiencing conflicts must be involved continuously in the handling activities. Training and building capacity on conflict handling techniques activities must be done continuously that involve all related stakeholders. Some techniques for handling and avoiding conflict can be done by: a. Making physical barriers

Conflict between human and elephant occurs because of using the same space at the same time. To mitigate conflicts that have occurred initially physical barriers must be made such as: - Providing bufferzone between elephants and human such as by establishing Accacia

Industrial Timber Plantation around the habitat. - Making canal - Making several kinds of fences.

The key to success of using physical barriers lies on the maintainance efforts. Whatever sophisticated and expensive the technology made for the blocks will not contribute a lot

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if they are not maintained regularly. To avoid the difficulty in maintainance, selection for equipments should be based on less and low maintainance criteria.

b. Early detection of elephants’ coming and guarding

In the area with more frequent conflict, communities must keep staying to guard their farmland that possibly will be raided by elephants. In condition with high frequency raid, the information of elephants’ coming needs to be known earlier and distributed to all communities that will involve in the handling. Some techniques for guarding the land and finding out information of the coming of elephants earlier are: - Building information system among villages about elephants coming and the

movement direction. - Building watch tower in location where elephants usually appear - Setting wires together with other tools in certain locations or around the farmland

that functions to give signals to the farm owner when elephants come. - Setting oil lamps around the farmland to give impression for elephants that many

people stay in the farmland. c. Driving away and/ chasing away

Driving /chasing away elephants is done when elephants enter community farmland. Driving and chasing away by harming elephants, shooting with gun or forcing elephants that have young kids to go away will cause the elephant stressful, aggressive, and finally become hazardous. Thus when driving away will be conducted, some points have to be considered: - Direct driving away must be done by people who understand elephants’ behaviour by

establishing self support patrol team in each village or each farmland clusters. - Driving elephant away out from the farming land can be done by using some sounds

and tools - Driving elephant away can be done by using trained elephants called Flying Squad.

d. Crops commodity swap

In the areas with high conflict frequency, the community is not suggested to plant the kinds of vegetables that elephant like to consume. Other choice that can be done to reduce the conflict is by exchanging the existing plants with plants that elephants do not like such as orange, and oil palm.

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IV. INCIDENCES MANAGEMENT In Riau based on observation and data record have shown that wild elephants population in nature keep decreasing. Every year elephant death is always reported due to having been poisoned, captured, hunted or found out to have conflict with human then die. Human elephant conflict does not only bring loss to human but also to elephants and if it is not handled properly will cause elephant extinction. This part discusses more about how each human elephant conflict occurs can always be monitored and recorded. Some activities done are : 1. Building information system from local community to monitor and report conflict and

actions that harm elephants in their habitat. 2. Deciding standardized mechanism that accomodate what action can be done when

information about elephant death obtained. The mechanism includes: (a) The authorized institution to do ground check. (b) If the data gained by the team from the field tells that elephants died because they

were killed intentionally thus the team must report immediately to the authority holders in order to follow up by law process.

(c) To process elephant carrion for autopsy and be managed properly according to the applied rules.

3. Deciding action to be done when there is an information obtained that local community

conduct activities that harm elephants in their habitat, by doing activities as follow: (a) The authorized institution conduct investigation in the field. (b) findings show that communities conducted the activities to mitigate conflict, actions

for raising awareness and aids to mitigate conflict must be given. (c) the activity is done intentionally to get the ivory ,it must be procesed in accordance

with the applied law.

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V. GIVING COMPENSATION TO COMMUNITY THAT ENCOUNTER LOSS DUE TO THE CONFLICT

A. Condition for Giving Compensation Compensation given to community that encounter loss due to having conflict with elephants must be judged within saving elephant framework. The compensation given to communitiy must be based on calculation loss in general done by the team assigned for that. Each year government allocates fund to community that suffer loss due to having conflict with elephants. Criteria for team designation and calculation loss or criteria to determine that community possess the right to get compensation must be made. Some conditions that can be used as basis for giving compensation: First, If the community encountering conflict experience death or injury that cause a whole life handicap of which the death or handicap is purely caused by elephant raid. However compensation will not be given to community who experience death or handicap that is not directly caused by elephant raid (ie. A person riding a motor cycle then was shocked of seeing elephant then fall down and experience death or handicap). Second, The community that experience death or a whole life handicap caused by direct elephant raid will be given compensation however the compensation is only for community that defense their farmland, not for plantation companies’ officers that are on duty of driving back elephants (the responsibility falls to the company) Third, Farmland, houses or other proverties that were raided by elephants will not get compensation since they choose to keep living in an elephant area, every risk should have been anticipated by community. Fourth, Community that experience death or handicap caused by direct elephant raid does not get compensation if it happens due to frustrated feeling toward the conflict that make them blatantly chase away the elephants without considering their own safety. B. Stages and assessment for compensation giving process

Compensation can be given to community on the basis that the loss is trully as a result of having conflict with elephants. To reach the decission for giving compensation, some steps must be considered: 1. Report from community supported by government or local village officials must be

available. 2. Elephant Conflict Handling Assessment Team will perform direct field observation. 3. The team will do reconstruction process of the incidence and will make assessment on it. 4. Elephant Conflict Handling Assessment Team reports their assessment result to the

Regent that has the authority to decide whether to refuse compensation or to give compensation and also with the number of fund that will be paid. Compensation given for death Rp,....... for a whole life handicap including hospital fee Rp...... If the assessment team recommends to give compensation, the Regent will issue the decree.

5. Disrict government gives the compensation directly to the heirs. This Assesment Team turned out to be the same with Elephant Conflict Handling Assesment Team assigned for elephant capturing activities for translocation purpose and relocating in ETC.

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VI. ELEPHANT CONSERVATION CENTRE MANAGEMENT Elephant Conservation Centre (ECC) which embryo is still called Elephant Training Centre (ETC) is a part of series of strategy for saving elephants in Sumatra. ETC management is a long term and continous management as a result commitment from any parties is required including rational financial support. Open management by involving participation from many parties in various ways is needed. Related parties other than Forest Protection and Nature Conservation service are Local government, Private Sectors, NGOs or individual (volunteer). The involvement of many parties without reducing Forest Protection and Nature Conservation service’s authority as the authority holder on Elephant Conservation Centre management is invited. Principally ECC is not a closed place but opened to any parties that are willing to participate or help. Bellow are some important things for proper ECC management including obstacles based on experiences obtained in Minas Elephat Training Centre.

No Items of Management Description of Ideal condition Gaps and Problems

Management and Organisation

Organisational structure of the Elephant Conservation Center

Consist of the Head and the vice, admin staff, vet and assistant, mahouts, general support either for providing elephants food and for supporting the staff.

Insufficient human resources to ideally manage both the structure and financial.

Admin staffs

Consist of civil servant and non-permanent staff. For non-permanent staff, either the status and the contract should be defined clearly with definite duties and responsibilities, planned trainings for staff and mahouts as well.

The existing payment of wages particularly for the mahouts is far from reasonable wages.

Elephants/mahouts ratio The ideal ratio of elephants to mahouts is two to one.

It is problematic to have qualified mahouts with the existing payment of wages.

01

Internal policies

The Center has to formulate its internal policies, w hat the dos and the dont’s to every staff. The policies should be notified among all. Particular policies should be displayed on several notice boards in the Center.

A comprehensive assessment is needed before the policies integrated into the management.

Daily Treatment for Elephants

02

Identity and medical records

Any elephants in the Center has to have identity and medical records. The records have to contain the backgrounds (when and where the elephants captured) , age, weight, and medical accounts, trainings attended, mahouts’ name, etc.

No standardized system and records. This kind of information not yet widely used among the decision makers.

Pharaanemeli Elephants’ daily activities

Standardization for elephants daily care taking should be set up in a fixed format, for instance from 6.30 to 16.30, begin from taking bath, giving food to have training/working, and so forth.

Standardization does not w ork as no skilled human resources at the Center and the ratio of mahouts to elephants is not ideal.

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No Items of Management Description of Ideal condition Gaps and Problems

Requirements

Facilities and equipments

Basic requirements and equipments should be owned by the Center are office building, medicine store, food and its preparation warehouse, visitor centre, domestication and training center, and transportation means to facilitate the staff.

The finance for such requirements is very limited.

Medicines and foodstuff

The Center has also to provide necessary medicines including nutrients and sufficient food. The drugs have always to be regularly checked for the expiration.

The finance for such requirement is very limited.

03

Farmland for growing elephants foodstuff

The center has to provide farmland for growing elephants food. The land is used as reserve or supplement in case of critical situation. The farmland is supposed to be around of the center with enough space. Commonly grown are sugar cane, bananas, king grass, etc.

Finance for this is not available.

Domestication of Captured Elephants placed in the center

04

Domestication of captured elephants placed in the center

The domestication of captured wild elephants should perform safe methods including equipments, medicines, and houses for supporting the activity. The domestication will not be conducted until the elephants get recovered and the wounds during the capture get healed.

Essential resources like skillful persons and sufficient equipments to run the action are still lacking

Making Use of Elephants

Driving back elephants

Trained elephants can be projected to reduce HEC. Deploying elephants for this purpose has to fit into the capabilities and prioritized handling activities.

Specified budget allocation for this item is not there as each conflict mitigation involved elephants needs high cost.

Tourism/attractions

The elephants can be employed for tourism purposes. For this purpose, certain policies should be developed within the center. Basically, deploying elephants for this reason is not to exploit or to abuse the elephants but it is more like a sequence of the trainings.

Internal policies in the center do not cover this issue, tehrefore any activity related to this is not properly scheduled.

05

Translocation/ Others

Translocating or exchanging elephants is only possible under certain circumstances, and should be based on the rules, and through such comprehensive considerations.

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Appendix. The 16 Elephant Population Pouches in Riau, Year 2003.