By: Shintya Kurniawan
Lampung (21/10)-Tuesday (19/10) and Wednesday (20/10) were two unforgettable-day for all the participants of exclusive eco-trip of WWF-Indonesia Corporate Club. During the two-day trip, 12 participants had a priceless opportunity to visit Elephant Patrol camp and spend their nights in Rhino camp, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Lampung.
It was the first eco-trip conducted by WWF-Indonesia Corporate Club, a platform for business partnership officially established in April 2010. Each member of WWF-Indonesia Corporate Club will automatically become part of “Green Society” which is essential to spread the conservation message and invite a bigger community for raising their awareness on environmental issues.
Three members of Corporate Club participating in the eco-trip were PT. Inresh Indonesia, PT. Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, Tbk, and PT. Hino Motor Sales Indonesia. Taking a plane from Soekarno Hatta International Airport, the entourage departed to Radin Inten Airport, Lampung. Then, they visited Elephant Patrol camp in Pemerihan to get to know the five trained-elephants which have been helping reduce the human-elephant conflict in BBS NP and its surroundings. Moreoever, the participants also had an unique experience, they learned to feed the elephants, bathe them, and join the patrol under the supervision of the elephant’s mahout, or trainer.

Who knows that those big mammals are very energic trekking the forest?with no single obstacle, those four big elephants (Arni, Yongki, Renggo, and Karangin) “carried” all the participants going along range of hills and rivers for one hour. Meanwhile the little elephant named Tommy followed them.

The adventure continued until the next morning. The last day of the trip set aside for forest trekking. The participants were so lucky since they were able to take photo of the beautiful Rafflesia arnoldi as it gracefully blossomed. They also witnessed other BBS biodiversities for instance tropical pitcher plants or monkey cups, insects, siamang (small, acrobatic primates, advanced apes from southeast Asia), Javan gibbon, and many more.
“This is my first time visit to National Park. This trip really helps me acknowledge the importance of conservation effort, and it has to be carried continuously,” said Andy Asteryna, Head of Empowerment Program PT. Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, Tbk.
“I am very pleased to witness the conservation effort which has been doing by WWF in BBS National Park. I strongly believe that this eco-trip will be able to promote conservation as well as raise the corporations awareness toward the environment. Many of the business players have not been well informed about conservation itself,” Arta Sarsena, PT. Hino Company Affairs Manager said.
Could not agree more! This is only the initial step of WWF-Indonesia Corporate Club to spread its wings. We believe that the conservation “spirit” needs to be transmitted to other business actors.