Two Rangers Die During Patrol in Kerinci Seblat National Park

TheIndonesia.id - Two members of Sumatran tiger patrol team in Bengkulu died during duty in Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS) after tree trunk fell on their tent.

Head of Mukomuko Forest Management Unit (KPH) Aprin Sihaloho confirmed on Wednesday, August 17, that forest ranger Gunawan Saefullah and patrol member Sudirman had died on duty.

The tiger patrol team (PHS) consisted of three PHS members and one forest ranger, and they headed to TNKS in Mukomuko on Monday for a seven-day patrol.

However, on Wednesday at about 8.00 a.m. local time, team member Slamet Riyadi reported to coordinator of Bengkulu PHS Geovril Seven that a tree trunk fell on the team’s camp an hour before.

Three patrol members were reportedly injured and experienced loss of consciousness.

A team of police, PHS members, medical professionals, and Pondok Suguh village residents were deployed to location for evacuation effort.

Antara later reported that both victims had been buried in their respective hometowns.

Gunawan Saefullah was buried in Argamakmur, North Bengkulu regency, on Thursday while Sudirman was buried in Tapan, West Sumatra province.

Head of TNKS office Haidir said the team, which was led by Gunawan Saefullah, had carried out similar patrols prior to the incident, and team members had proven track records.

“But no one could have guessed such disaster,” Haidir said.

Both Gunawan Saefullah and Sudirman were part of the ream that had previously received the International Ranger Award from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)-World Committee on Protected Areas (WCPA) in July.