By: Effendi

Bukit Rimbang Baling Wildlife Sanctuary (SM), a conservation forest area characterized by lowland forests that have very high biodiversity, and is divided by the Subayang river which is still thick with cultural values. I'm back here to explore and wander in the thick of the forest. Introducing myself, I'm Effendi, one of the rangers assigned to the Bukit Rimbang Baling landscape area to monitor the condition of the big cat with the Sumatran tiger.

This time I am going to the third block, where camera traps are installed to monitor the presence of Sumatran Tigers. For three months, a total of nine camera traps have been installed to monitor this cat with the scientific name Panthera tigris sumatrae. In this block, we check the condition of each camera trap, replace the batteries and memory cards, and see what has been recorded over the previous three months.

Tanjung Belit Village, Kampar Kiri Hulu is the entrance to the upper Subayang River via waterway. Subayang Jaya Village, also known as Salo Village, was the first place my team and I headed to in order to get closer to the checkpoint. Using a boat called a jonson, it takes three hours to reach the location. The water conditions had receded slightly because it had reportedly not rained for several days. This made the jonson that we were riding on run aground, carried by the swift current and hit by river rocks. Several times passengers had to get off the boat and walk to reduce the load capacity. When it was possible to board, the passengers got back on the jonson. This situation is actually very risky, because the jonson can leak due to rock friction.

My team and I got wet on this trip, but we still enjoyed the ride. My heart felt very happy because my eyes were treated to the green scenery of the trees along the way. The clear water of the Subayang river reflected the shadows of the trees standing upright on the riverbank. The nature in Bukit Rimbang Baling SM is very beautiful.

Before we knew it, we finally arrived at Subayang Jaya Village. We will stay here for two nights. While in the village, we will be staying in the house of a local resident who is the parent of one of the team members. This will be a new environment for us, a new home, and of course a new family.

When the team first came to this village, there were some villagers who rejected us and all the activities that we would do. They were afraid that the camera traps that would be installed would be used to spy on their activities in the forest.

They thought that the photos and videos recorded would be sent through satellite signals directly connected to the camera. But over time, with the understanding and knowledge given to the community by the field team on duty, they can understand what WWF-Indonesia is doing. The community also understands that the purpose of WWF's presence there is to research and protect the Sumatran tiger and its habitat.

Living in harmony with nature is the key to making nature sustainable. If we cannot protect it, then it will have an impact on disrupting the balance of the ecosystem to the extinction of species. Communities living near conservation areas have a very important role to play in preserving the forest. If the forest is preserved, then the lives of animals that live in the forest will prosper, as well as the people who live in the forest area.