By: Rafselia Novalina - Rimbang Baling Tiger Habitat Conservation Program.

In the middle of the jungle of Sumatra lives Mukhsin. Mukhsin since childhood is accustomed to living side by side with nature. His house is on the edge of the forest, so his daily activities are playing in the forest.

His familiarity with the forest since childhood, led him to become a jungle guardian with the TPU Team (Tiger Patrolli Unit) formed by WWF Indonesia Program Central Sumatra in collaboration with the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center. TPU is one of the divisions in WWF Indonesia Central Sumatra Program for Sumatran Tiger conservation activities. Together with TPU, Mukshin helps maintain and care for Camp Sungai Tapi which is a transit facility for TPU teams or other teams heading to or returning from Riau's so-called Tropical Forest Wilderness.

As the name suggests, Camp is located on the banks of the Tapi River, on the edge of the Rimbang Baling Wildlife Reserve. Access to Camp Sungai Tapi from Pekanbaru requires a road trip of ± 5 hours which can be reached using field vehicles such as motorbikes trail or cars with 4-wheel drive (4WD). The road is quite extreme, flanked by rivers and forests. At the end of the journey to the Tapi River Camp, the vehicle will cross the river without a bridge 2 times.

Camp Sungai Tapi stands majestically welcoming everyone who wants to interact with it after a challenging journey. camp which is positioned in the middle of the forest, sometimes for up to weeks guarding, caring for and carrying out various activities to be in love with nature.

When morning breaks, accompanied by the chirping of birds, long-tailed monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), ungko (Hylobates agilis), gurgling river water, waving leaves Mukhsin begins his activities to beautify the Tapi River Camp. The activity of beautifying camp by planting plants that are beneficial for people who want to unwind after traveling in the forest.

At the same time, Mukshin conducts nurseries for long-term forest plants from local seeds. According to Mukhsin, this work is one of the ways he can help preserve his forest. He collects local seedlings from forest trees around the Sungai Tapi forest camp, then sows the seedlings based on their type and uses soil from the area. Seeding using local seedlings is recognized by Mukhsin as a way for these long-term plants to be strong and do not need to adapt to nature because they come from the same soil they came from.

As simple as Mukhsin expresses his opinion about local seedlings, it is his way of learning from nature based on his past experience living side by side in the forest. Mukhsin takes care of his seedlings diligently, seeding them gradually in the hope that they will grow well so that they can be planted in forests that are becoming barren due to illegal logging, land clearing for plantations and settlements.

As dusk falls, Mukhsin makes friends with solitude enjoying the silence of nature and darkness. According to Osmatri Abeng (Wildlife Crime Unit Coordinator), "I have never found anyone as courageous as Mukhsin, living alone in the forest for weeks, making friends in the dark when at Camp alone. However, I salute his courage to do something for the forest to protect it through simple things he does such as breeding local seedlings of long-term forest plants."

Yes, it is interesting to know Mukhsin who lives simply in the middle of the wilderness to protect this forest. Mukhsin sincerely does activities that allow him to play a role in preserving the environment. Living by getting food from the cleanest source, nature, by fishing in the river. Not afraid of the darkness and silence of nature. Darkness and silence are friends for Mukhsin to get closer to nature.

How fortunate the animals and the entire contents of the Sumatran jungle would be if many other Mukshin were happily moved to protect this nature with their skills and knowledge. There are many things that can be done to be compassionate and involved in protecting nature. The figure of Mukhsin will inspire through stories and meetings.