NewsIn the field: Profiles of conservation heroes on the frontlines in SumatraSyamsuardi, Elephant Flying Squad Leader
Among the four adult Flying Squad elephants, he admits to having a favorite: Ria. “She has good motivation and always encourages the other elephants. In regular patrols and driving wild elephants away, Ria always takes a place in the front and leads the other elephants,” Syamsuardi said. The job is not easy and is sometimes dangerous for Flying Squad team personnel and the elephants. Wild elephants are often hard to direct and have their own ideas about whether and when to leave a community field and go back to the forest. Syamsuardi experienced a dangerous moment when he tried to drive off a single wild elephant, which he calls Begal, that tried to attack the Flying Squad elephants. But because the Flying Squad works so well as a cohesive team, Begal was finally and safely driven into the forest. Extinction of biodiversity in the Tesso Nilo forest area is the biggest concern for Syamsuardi, as he observes widespread new land clearing. The shrinking habitat left for elephants threatens both the community’s and elephant’s lives in Tesso Nilo. The former Boy Scout hopes for the integrity of the Tesso Nilo area, which continues to suffer from illegal clearing and planting of crops that lure elephants to often tragic ends. The devastated areas, and the resulting injured and dead elephants, bring great sorrow to Syamsuardi.
He and Flying Squad team will keep working to reduce conflict between human and elephants in the hope that harmonious relationship between the two can be obtained and also with surrounding environment. Syamsuardi’s dream is the preservation of Tesso Nilo, not only established as conservation area but with effective legal enforcement and community participation to protect its environment. Ruswanto, Elephant Care Taker  Recently, Ruswanto’s attention has been devoted to Lisa, one of the members of Flying Squad who gave birth to a calf named Nella in February 2007. As a father himself , Ruswanto watched over Lisa in her pregnancy and hopes that Nella grows up to be healthy, happy and able to strengthen the Flying Squad team to overcome the conflict that often develops between human and elephant. For Ruswanto, who goes by the nickname Iwan, his work as elephant caretaker – or mahout – was intimidating at first. “At the beginning, I was afraid of the elephants, but now I enjoy playing with them and showering them,” he said. Whether he is bathing the elephants or gathering their food in the forest, Iwan diligently works to understand the elephants’ habit and traits. As a result, he has formed a tight bond with Lisa and they are now a solid team.
Amid the conservation issues facing Riau, Iwan hopes the Flying Squad’s existence can offer a significant contribution to conservation and provide new hope for the Tesso Nilo landscape. Warkasa and his hope with the birth of Tesso  Warkasa never imagined he would come to understand the habits and characters of the elephant, but now elephants have become part of his life’s rhythm.Every morning and afternoon, Warkasa takes care of Ria, the second elephant in the Flying Squad to become a mother. As with the rest of the team, he shares “Ria duty” with another mahout, Erwin Daulay. Now his activities are increasingly busy, since Ria gave birth to a male elephant named Tesso in November 2007. “Ria and Tesso should have full attention at this moment,” Warkasa said, as Ria needs additional food to recover her health after giving birth and because she is still nursing.
Warkasa joined the Flying Squad team at the beginning of 2006. In this team, Warkasa has to sharpen his skills working as a partner with the elephants as part of his job is to encourage Ria to be brave confronting the wild elephants and driving them back to the forest together with the other three Flying Squad elephants. Human –elephant conflict will still occur as long as the root problem cannot be solved. Warkasa hopes that Sumatra’s decision-makers can make wise and fair decisions to handle this problem so that more calves, like Tesso, can grow up happily in their natural habitat. (JV)   |
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