It has become a fixed commitment to continue our conservation work amid SUMECO’s financial crisis in carrying out its duties for wildlife preservation. The establishment of the Wildlife Conservation Camp is expected to provide SUMECO with resources to assist animals in need.
On October 16, 2022, the team’s first arrival from Singaporean The Untamed Paths project was aimed at assisting SUMECO’s work on the ground, in collaboration with the authority of Gunung Leuser National Park, by conducting sweeping and confiscating protected species held illegally in the Bukit Lawang area.
It gives more hope to SUMECO to see a slow loris in illegal captivity has been rescued and released back to its natural habitat. Conservation requires actual work on the ground to be implemented. There are probably many conservation organizations in Bukit Lawang, but they’re just about the willingness and talking without implementation. The words ecotourism and conservation are often used only to gain the benefits of tourism, that’s what I have seen since 2014.
Gunung Leuser National Park has been assisting SUMECO’s intensive work since 2014 and is known as well as SUMECO’s best partner in many operations combating wildlife crimes in the Bukit Lawang area. It’s a big thanks to its section chief who now became Leuser division chief, Mr. Palber Turnip. He is the one who keeps supporting SUMECO nights and days.
The fall of “Mansfeld Operation” (2021) and “Operation Tomeo” (2022) have pushed SUMECO to the corner, where it is hopelessly trying to continue its grassroots work as a local conservation organization in Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra. Hundreds of animals have been rescued by those two big operations, which were known and conducted by local authorities as well. Wildlife trafficking is a big part of wildlife crimes in North Sumatra and Aceh. In trying to reduce them, takes a lot of time, energy, trust, and mental fortitude. 3 years of intense work by me as the founder of SUMECO, requires a huge amount of energy to keep working on it.
“This Wildlife Conservation Camp seems to be a big hope for me to continue SUMECO’s work little by little. “The spirit is still there, and I will try my best to continue. More than 460 animals have been rescued already, and it’s so sad if it has to be stopped. Now it’s not just about saving the animals anymore; it’s also about saving the connection, access, and relation to all related networks and parties that SUMECO has established over the years.” Bobi Handoko (Founder of SUMECO).
