Publication Date

Fall 2025

Abstract

This paper investigates the negative interactions between humans and animals in Way Kambas National Park of Sumatra, Indonesia, and the prevention and mitigation tactics the community utilizes. The numerous villages surrounding the National Park suffer from elephant activity damaging their farms, while the elephants are frequently harmed by poaching within the park. Participate observations and interviews concluded that the Way Kambas community responds to human-wildlife conflict with a collaborative effort by locals, government park police, and non-governmental organizations to both deter elephant presence outside of the park and poaching activity within the park, as well as to mitigate the negative effects of human-wildlife conflict in Way Kambas and its bordering villages. These methods range from GPS technology, watch huts, and injured elephant intervention. The community has also seen success with local education and financial initiatives to encourage positive responses to elephant activity and dissuade poaching within the park. However, numerous interviews revealed that the government is not adequately maintaining the promises it made to protect both the local people and the flora and fauna within the park. While there are many improvements still to be made, Way Kambas is often hailed for its successful human-wildlife conflict mitigation tactics and offers an abundant case study due to the area’s cultural and natural diversity. This paper explores the efforts within the park that have shown the most success, as well as where advancements and assistance are still needed to ensure the well-being of the villages and the National Park.

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | Life Sciences | Social and Behavioral Sciences

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