Bowling for Rhinos Visits Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park

Bowling for Rhinos tour members with Rhino Protection Unit (RPU) teams at Camp Rhino in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia
Bowling for Rhinos tour members with Rhino Protection Unit (RPU) teams at Camp Rhino in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia

The 2014 Bowling for Rhinos Indonesia tour recently visited Indonesia’s Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, home to one of Sumatra’s three remaining wild rhino populations. During a brief stay, tour members visited a nearby government training facility, where Asian elephants are trained to assist authorities in mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, which is one of the responsibilities undertaken by resident Rhino Protection Units. In addition, tour members were invited to commemorate their visit by planting a native tree in a small grove that has come to be called Bowlers’ Alley.
Locally-Trained elephants are used to mitigate conflicts between villagers and wild elephant populations.
Locally-Trained elephants are used to mitigate conflicts between villagers and wild elephant populations.

Young elephant at nearby training facility run by national park authorities.
Young elephant at nearby training facility run by national park authorities.

A Rhino Protection Unit ranger demonstrates an elephant “cannon”, a device which produces loud noises that frighten crop-raiding elephants
A Rhino Protection Unit ranger demonstrates an elephant “cannon”, a device which produces loud noises that frighten crop-raiding elephants

IRF’s Bowling for Rhinos tour member Pace Frank of the Oklahoma City Zoo plants a tree in Bowlers Alley.
IRF’s Bowling for Rhinos tour member Pace Frank of the Oklahoma City Zoo plants a tree in Bowlers Alley.

New RPU recruits
New RPU recruits

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