Enviro News Asia, Aceh — The Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Aceh) deployed four trained elephants and a support team to assist post-flood recovery operations in Pidie Jaya, Aceh, on Sunday, 7 December 2025. The deployment was carried out with strict planning, field assessments and full adherence to animal welfare principles.
Head of BKSDA Aceh Ujang Wisnu Barata said the agency conducted a detailed survey before deploying the elephants, assessing site conditions, accessibility, safety levels and operational requirements. The findings guided the selection of routes, work points, rest areas and work durations adjusted to the animals’ capabilities.
To safeguard the elephants’ health, the team prepared rest areas with adequate feed, supplements and continuous health monitoring. Water availability was treated as a priority, supported by a slip-on truck equipped with a tank and hoses stationed at the work site.
Ujang noted that the use of trained elephants in disaster response has been applied in several Asian countries, including Indonesia, such as during the 2004 Aceh tsunami. The practice, he said, aligns with the principle of guna liman, or sustainable elephant utilization carried out with caution, supervision and welfare-based management.
He explained that the four elephants were transported by transfer trucks from their holding area to the operational site to ensure safety and prevent stress before entering the flood-affected areas.
“In this emergency situation, BKSDA Aceh carries a moral responsibility to assist communities. One way we can contribute is by helping clear debris and materials left by the disaster,” Ujang said.
Work-site locations were determined through close coordination with the Pidie Jaya Regent and local police, ensuring safety for personnel and elephants and regulating work hours to prevent overexertion.
Ujang expressed appreciation for the cooperation among officers, volunteers and elephant handlers. He emphasized that while elephants have long been used to support heavy-duty tasks in several regions, such practices should not become normalized beyond emergency and essential needs.
The Ministry of Forestry affirmed its commitment to restoring access for affected communities, ensuring essential services and supporting recovery efforts as quickly as possible.
The deployed team consists of eight mahouts, forest rangers from the local resort unit, and a veterinarian equipped with field medical supplies. Local police provided full security for the operation, ensuring orderly and safe activities.
The mobilization supports environmental rehabilitation, particularly in areas inaccessible to heavy machinery. Beyond its operational purpose, the mission reinforces the message that wildlife welfare must remain central when animals are involved in field operations.
“This proves that elephants are not the enemies of humans. Do not destroy their habitat or disturb their homes. In moments of crisis, when everything else stops working, elephants are the ones who step in to help,” Ujang said. (*)
