Sun Bear Attack Injures Indonesian Resident; Wildlife Team Deployed

A resident in Riau, Indonesia, suffered injuries and significant blood loss after being attacked by a sun bear in their field. The incident occurred in Pangkalan Gondai village, Langgam district, Pelalawan regency.

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Every report of wildlife conflict is followed up by deploying a WRU team to the field. The handling is carried out in a measured way while prioritizing public safety and preserving the wildlife that is protected.

The Head of the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA), Supartono, confirmed that a team was dispatched to the location. He emphasized that public safety is the top priority in all wildlife conflict responses, which are conducted in a measured way to protect both people and the protected animals.

The victim was reportedly attacked from behind by the sun bear. They attempted to fight back, causing the bear to release its grip and flee. Despite escaping the immediate attack, the victim sustained injuries and was taken to Selasih Hospital in Pangkalan Kerinci after losing a considerable amount of blood and fainting at home.

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We continue to coordinate with the local government, security forces, and the community so that mitigation steps can run effectively.

The BBKSDA team has set up a trap cage to monitor the bear's whereabouts and mitigate potential future dangers to the community. They are coordinating with local government, security forces, and residents to ensure effective mitigation. The Ministry of Forestry stressed the importance of strengthening human-wildlife conflict mitigation systems for adaptive conservation management, balancing biodiversity protection with public safety in areas bordering wildlife habitats.

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Biodiversity protection must go hand in hand with efforts to provide a sense of security for the community living and operating around forest areas or wildlife habitats.

Sun bears are a protected species, and all conflict responses are handled with care, prioritizing human safety while preserving the animals and their habitats. The public is urged to be vigilant when working in areas near wildlife habitats, avoid working alone, and report any sightings of wild animals to the BBKSDA or local authorities.

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We urge the public who are active in fields or areas bordering wildlife habitats to increase vigilance, avoid working alone, and immediately report to BBKSDA or local authorities if they find wild animals around settlements or plantation areas.