Prof.Dr. Harini Muntasib: Different Perception of Wildlife Ecotourism Management in Indonesia

 

According Prof.Dr.Ir. E.K.S. Harini Muntasib, Professor of Ecotourism, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), in the 90s, Indonesia was optimistic because it has so many attractions of wildlife, but apparently it does not become a reality. Why do we lose to other countries which have successfully developed ecotourism?

 

Based on discussions with the various parties that directly or indirectly participate actively in the activities of wildlife ecotourism, the problem is there is no common perception of wildlife ecotourism.

 

"Each side is always blaming each other. Each ministry has its own policy, strategy, strategic plan and has not socialized or had little synergy. To build the relationship of the parties, it is necessary to have a system of wildlife ecotourism management," said Prof. Harini a press conference before a scientific oration in Ex-lounge of Baranangsiang Campus of IPB, Bogor (30/7).

 

Wildlife ecotourism is an activity to enjoy the wildlife as an object of attraction. As an object, the wildlife will actually only be an attraction if you know exactly when you can see animals in the wild.

 

For example, you want to see a bull in the pasture, then you should  observe when the animal is grazing comfortably in the pasture, which is about 6-8 hours in the morning and 16-18 hours in the afternoon.  To watch the Java Rhinos easily is when they are bathing, and you should make sure in advance where the permanent puddling is, thus you can choose an observing location to watch a rhinoceros without disturbing it while wallowing.

 

To view wildlife mammals in West Bali National Park is easy in the dry season because the animals will be concentrated at places where  drinking water is available.

 

Indonesia has enormously potential wildlife ecotourism. For examples, National Park (TN) of South Bukit Barisan is famous for two-horn rhinos, elephants and Sumatran tigers; National Park of Way Kambas is famous for its Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary and gave birth a Rhino in 2012 (Andatu). It is also a habitat for Sumatran elephants, Sumatran tigers, tapirs and Honey Bear; Gunung Leuser National Park is a place of adventure, accessible through a forest with the troops of elephants for 3 or 4 days, you can bathe elephants and can also ride elephants along short distant  route of cross-forest.

 

"When relaxing enjoying a drink there is a natural attraction of a wide range of primate swinging in the trees. It can all be enjoyed in Ecotourism Region of Tangkahan of Baluran National Park, a little Africa at the eastern end of Java where you can see wild buffalo, bison, deer, and peacocks. The National Park of Gunung Gede Pangrango is the habitat of Java eagles, which is similar to the symbol of our country, Beetle Tigers  and Spotted Tigers, Java gibbons, various types of Amphibians, and much more," he said.

 

Despite the many unique, attractive and rare species, these wild-lives of Indonesia have not been widely exploited for ecotourism. The main reasons are that Indonesian wildlife is cryptic (camouflaged with its surroundings) and shy (going away when meeting the human), dwelling in inaccessible places, and the domestic market is still low. Indonesian large wild animals that are still easily observed are Komodo and Javanese peacocks.

 

Given the potential scale,  Prof. Harini, in his scientific speech delivered on Saturday (1/8) at the Auditorium of Andi Hakim Nasution, Dramaga Campus of IPB, proposed a concept of wildlife ecotourism management system.

 

According to him, the system is not to build  a new institution, but rather to mobilize the mechanism between the parties in the management of wildlife in a region.

 

To be able to carry out a collaboration / partnership / consortium and so forth in this ecotourism management, the principles applied by the collaborating parties are benefits, fairness and legality.

 

The commitment of the parties is based on the arrangement of rights, assistance, benefit sharing, follow-ups by local, provincial and national policies to formulate an incentive system. "The role of government is as a facilitator as well as conductor and at the same time implementing a balanced regulation in the form of a reward and punishment in a system of incentives and dis-incentives," he explained. (Mtd)