Rusli Siregar (54) is the Resort Chief of Rimbang Baling Wildlife Reserve. He started working at the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center in 1984 as an honorary staff. He was then appointed Forest Ranger at BKSDA in 1990 after completing the forestry police course at the State Police School Sampali Medan in 1990.

Patrolling the Rimbang Baling Wildlife Reserve is one of his routine activities. Using a motorcycle, he and two colleagues must monitor the 136,000 ha conservation area. "We have constraints in monitoring the area because we only have one motorcycle for our routine operations," Rusli says. "This is an obstacle but we have to give our best to help protect the forest," Rusli added.

Rimbang Baling is one of the most important habitats for Sumatran tigers. With a hilly topography, the area has a beautiful panorama. The Subayang River flows through the reserve with its clear water and white sandy banks. In some places, large boulders are piled up in the middle of the river making the scenery even more charming and challenging. The river also serves as the only medium of transportation for local communities living along the river to the access road.

Threatened by Encroachment
Encroachment threatens this area to be converted into plantations including oil palm plantations. Rusli Siregar had a bad experience in 1998 when he and a colleague were patrolling the area, when four encroachers rejected Rusli and his colleague who warned them to stop their activities inside the conservation area. The encroachers then reported the incident to their boss and Rusli was summoned to the village head in the evening to meet the encroachers' boss. An argument ensued between Rusli and the boss and the boss suddenly punched Rusli. Rusli tried to defend himself. Seeing this incident, other people who were around the location stopped the fight.

Rusli reported this incident to his superiors. The police were then dispatched to the area to process the incident and eventually the encroachment in the area stopped.

"This is an unforgettable experience, I was very worried at the time that I didn't survive the fight because I was alone at the time," Rusli explained. But the incident did not discourage Rusli from patrolling in an effort to protect the area.

Patrol Activity
Rusli is also a member of the Tiger Protection Team, a patrol unit that monitors threats to Sumatran tigers in collaboration with the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center and WWF-Indonesia. As Resort Chief, Rusli also serves as the head of the tiger protection team unit in charge of the Rimbang Baling Wildlife Reserve. Since the team was formed in 2005, it has patrolled in and around the area to minimize threats to Sumatran tigers. One of the team's tasks is to confiscate wildlife snares found in the forest. In addition, the team also provides counseling to raise public awareness of the importance of protecting the reserve as a tiger habitat to reduce human-tiger conflict, and warns encroachers that encroachment is illegal.

"I was very happy to see the Rimbang Baling Wildlife Sanctuary at the beginning of my assignment, the area was still dense forest but now I am very sad because encroachment has eliminated part of the forest that is rich in biodiversity," said Rusli.

Rusli admitted that in carrying out his duties, several times he met wildlife such as deer and tigers and several times saw tiger tracks or scratches. He was very happy to see that wildlife still existed in the area but he was very sad because he found wildlife snares including tiger snares several times. "I immediately cleaned the snares," Rusli said.

Rusli and His Hope
Since his assignment in 1989, Rusli and his family have occupied the Rimbang Baling wildlife reserve resort post. The post doubles as his office and home. Although living in an area far from city life has not dampened his spirits, he has never thought of moving from the resort post that has given him so many memories.

Rusli's wife is an elementary school teacher. They have three children, two girls and one boy. Their first child has successfully completed college. Rusli is so proud and grateful to be able to send his children to college.

Rusli hopes that his children will have a better life in the future as he hopes that one day the Rimbang Baling Wildlife Sanctuary will be free from encroachment and poaching activities. He envisions the area to be fully preserved and hopes that all parties will participate in preserving the area's natural beauty and richness.