Saving the Leuser Eco-System
by turning poachers into jungle guides
Illegal Poaching in Sumatra
Poachers target iconic species like Sumatran tigers, rhinos, elephants, and orangutans, driven by the lucrative wildlife trade. This illegal activity not only decimates wildlife populations but also destabilizes the delicate ecological balance of this vital rainforest.
The scale of poaching in the Leuser Ecosystem is alarming. Despite conservation efforts, the demand for wildlife products persists, fueling a relentless cycle of exploitation. Illegal poaching in Sumatra is often done with snares and traps, indiscriminately killing animals for their skins, tusks, or body parts destined for black markets.
In response to the growing threat of illegal poaching in Sumatra, the Indonesian government has quadrupled the maximum jail terms from five to 20 years for animal poachers. While the government’s attention for the issue is widely praised, some environmentalists are sceptical. A positive incentive schemes, providing poachers an alternative source of income through Sumatra ecotours, could be substantially more effective.
Local conservationists routinely seize hundreds of snares used with illegal poaching in Sumatra. Photo from Al Jazeera.
Poachers are humans too
Criminalising poaching is the obvious first step to address the problem. But understanding the motivations behind poaching is crucial for more holistic and effective solutions.
While poachers are often portrayed as villains, it’s essential to recognize their humanity and understand where they stand in the poaching market chain. According to Mongabay an orangutan is worth $20,000 in the black market. Of that, poachers only get $8 to $121. The main profit goes to the dealers.
So while animal trafficking is a lucrative market, it is mostly lucrative for the dealers. Not so much for the poachers; they get a very small piece of the pie while they carry most of the risks.
Many poachers are just driven by poverty and lack of alternative livelihoods. Desperate for income, they resort to illegal poaching in Sumatra, unaware of the long-term consequences on biodiversity and the legal risks they pose.
Addressing the root cause of illegal poaching in Sumatra requires holistic solutions that offer sustainable alternatives and empower local communities. And ideally, it also recognizes the humanity of poachers.
Transforming poachers through Sumatra Ecotours
Our approach to combat illegal poaching in Sumatra is to transform former poachers into jungle guides for our Sumatra ecotours. By providing training and support, these individuals can leverage their deep knowledge of the forest to offer ethical jungle experiences to visitors.
Similar to what we do with local palm oil workers, we offer poachers the opportunity to monetise their jungle expertise by conserving the rainforest, and not by destroying it.
This not only provides a legitimate source of income, it instills a sense of pride and ownership in protecting their natural heritage. The transformation of poachers into Sumatra jungle guides also provides adventurous tourists the opportunity for truly immersive jungle experiences. Thanks to their knowledge of the deep jungle, they can bring travellers much further into the unpaved rainforest than commonly done with the popular Bukit Lawang jungle trekking tours.
We believe that such positive incentive schemes for poachers is the most effective measure to disrupt the cycle of illegal poaching in Sumatra.
In search of Sumatra orangutans in Gunung Leuser National Park with expert local guides.
It’s surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on earth.
– David Attenborough –
In our shared responsibility to protect the Leuser Ecosystem and its magnificent inhabitants, spreading awareness is key. By sharing this information with others, you contribute to a global conversation about conservation and inspire action that gives poachers a dignified way out.
It also makes travellers recognize that hiring a Sumatra jungle guide is not only for your safety in the jungle; it is a direct support of locals that rejected the lucrative palm oil industry or poaching and instead chose to dedicate their lives on the consservation of the Sumatra rainforest.
So please spread the word and join us in our fight to protect our rainforest and help our local communities. What are your ideas to conserve the rainforest? Share your thoughts below.
Terima Kasih
Local Guides
