Eco-Tourism Destination in Bengkulu

The rich of biodiversity in the Seblat ECC area and the presence of captive elephants, has the potential to develop into an eco-tourism destination in the province of Bengkulu. Visitors came from five continents in the world have visited to the Seblat ECC.

Studies Research

The rich of biodiversity in the Seblat Elephant Conservation Centre (Seblat ECC) forest area is also very interested for scientific researchers. In January 2011 there are a studied research about DNA testing on elephants in the Seblat ECC.

Conservation Response Unit (CRU) is a team who works to protect the Seblat ECC area continually. CRU be composed of mahout (elephant keeper) and forest rangers who fight forest crime and with utilize existing captive elephants to protect the wild elephant population’s habitat. And before members of the CRU team got training about biodiversity monitoring techniques, human-wildlife conflict assessment and means of mitigating such conflicts, navigation in the field using GPS and satellite mapping, identifying and documenting wildlife crime, and operating field equipment. While on patrol, the CRU teams have recorded various types of forest crime, that are : illegal logging, land encroachment, wildlife hunting (poaching), and illegal drill for survey of coal mining. The CRU project was established by BKSDA Bengkulu and That is supported by International Elephant Foundation and project partner Fauna & Flora International – Sumatran Elephant Conservation Programme.

The Seblat Elephant Conservation Centre (ECC) established in October 1992 by Indonesian government that be issued by Minister of Forestry, is a conservation area width 6865 hectares in the province of Bengkulu on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. The province of Bengkulu is surrounded by the provinces of South Sumatra, Jambi, Lampung, West Sumatra and the Indian Ocean. The distance from Bengkulu city to the Seblat ECC is about 147 km. The conservation area is altitude 15m-113m dpl. A number of large scale palm oil plantations of 6 companies and ex-logging concessions surround the Seblat ECC. Within the Seblat ECC area, a small portion is allocated to a facility which holds 18 captive elephants, and the larger portion of this area is covered by forest. Due to the rich biodiversity found in the ECC forest area and there are many kind species of wildlife that is : elephant, tiger, sun bear, tapir, sambar deer, pangolin, common porcupine, malay badger, hairy-nos red otter, binturong, clouded leopard, leopard cat, bearded pig, lesser mouse-deer, greater mouse-deer, red muntjac. And many species of primate, is like : slow loris, banded langur, long tailed macaque, pig tailed macaque, agile gibbon, siamang, silvered langur. And many kind species of hornbill and eagle and great argus. And sometimes wild elephant, tiger, sun bear and another wild animal can be watched directly. And the conservation was ever found endangered species of flora, that is Rafflesia arnoldi. And Rafflesia arnoldi is an endemic species in Bengkulu. And the presence of captive elephants, the Seblat ECC area has the potential to develop into an eco-tourism destination as a long term self sustainability strategy for the elephant camp. Also Its useful for ele patrol for protecting the forest and wildlife in the vicinity of the ECC while identifying and mitigating human- elephant conflict. And It also useful for research, education, and awareness about wildlife conservation