Thanks to the support of Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK) the training programme for Community Rangers in Mt. Tilu Nature Reserve is progressing well.

Some of the Community Rangers in uniform © The Aspinall Foundation Indonesia

In addition to patrol equipment such as binoculars and cameras, the first 30 enrolled rangers have received their official community ranger uniform. The wearing of a uniform is important as it provides recognition of the official identity of a community ranger, which is crucial when they are on patrol and interacting with members of the public who may be carrying out unauthorised or illegal activities. It also enhances the sense of being part of a team, presents a smart appearance, and has been designed to be appropriate for the climate and terrain the rangers are working in.

Attendees of the training session at Bandung Zoo © The Aspinall Foundation Indonesia

Training sessions, across a diverse range of topics, are an integral part of the project and often involve specialist speakers who are experts in their field. One of the sessions, Training in Standard Operational Procedure and Wild Animal Handling, took place at Bandung Zoo.  The location provided a great opportunity to extend the training to a wider audience and over 50 people attended. In addition to the community rangers, attendees included representatives from local firefighters, forestry staff and zoo staff. The training included practical demonstrations of how to handle a variety of wildlife species, including primates, birds and reptiles. It was conducted by members of The Aspinall Foundation Indonesia team and representatives from the Kamojang Eagle Conservation Centre (PKEK).

Community Ranger patrollers dismantling a poacher’s bivouac © The Aspinall Foundation Indonesia

Patrols carried out by community rangers in Mt Tilu nature reserve support the West Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency or Balai Besar Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (BBKSDA), the authority for nature reserve management in the Republic of Indonesia. Following each mission, the teams report to the BBKSDA on all observations and activities. Recent incursions into the protected area that the community rangers have dealt with include wild bird hunting, small-scale clearance of land for agriculture and evidence of poachers such as bivouacs.

Over the next few months, further training sessions will be held, and patrols will continue. By the end of the project, the community rangers will have significantly increased their knowledge and skills.