Way Kambas wildfire extinguished, elephants safe: Forestry Ministry

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Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Forestry confirmed that a wildfire in Way Kambas National Park, Lampung, was successfully extinguished on Saturday (August 22) at around 7 p.m. local time.

The ministry also confirmed that Sumatran elephants in both their natural habitat and at the Elephant Conservation Center within the park remained unaffected by the fire.

“Based on monitoring by the Way Kambas National Park Office, wild elephant herds are located in the northern part of the park, far from the fire site,” Ristianto Pribadi, head of the ministry’s Bureau of Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation, said in a statement received on Sunday.

He added that the Elephant Conservation Center is also located far from the affected area.

Nevertheless, officers continue to monitor wildlife movements and conditions in the area to ensure the animals receive adequate protection.

The fire broke out on Friday (August 21) in the Kuala Penet Resort area, with the affected area estimated at around 673 hectares.

The firefighting operation involved around 250 personnel from various agencies and organizations, including officers from the Lampung Regional Police and volunteers from the Fire Care Community.

According to Ristianto, firefighting efforts faced significant challenges due to the peatland terrain, difficult access to the site, and water sources located far from the fire.

Following the extinguishing of the fire, the joint team conducted cooling operations and continued monitoring to ensure that no hotspots reemerged. The measures are considered essential because peatlands can retain heat below the surface and reignite if not thoroughly cooled.

As a follow-up, the Way Kambas National Park Office will intensify patrols and security operations in the area while strengthening coordination with the military, police, local governments, partners, and local communities.

The Ministry of Forestry expressed its appreciation to the joint personnel, conservation partners, and members of the public who worked together to extinguish the fire and protect wildlife, including Sumatran elephants.