<p><em>By Dr. Susie Ellis, Executive Director and Margaret Moore, Development Director<br />International Rhino Foundation, Yulee, FL</em></p>

<p>The Rhino Protection Unit (RPU) program in Indonesia, partially funded by the American Association of Zoo Keepers Bowling for Rhinos program, is the front line of defense for critically endangered Sumatran and Javan rhinos. Bowling for Rhinos funding has essentially helped to put a halt to rhino poaching in the three parks where the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) works:  Bukit Barisan and Way Kambas National Parks in Sumatra, and Ujung Kulon National Park.</p> 

<p>Indonesia and Brazil are the two most biodiverse countries in the world, in terms of mammalian species. For the foreseeable future, Indonesian national parks will not have resources to adequately fund proactive measures to prevent harm to its unique and at-peril wildlife. Therefore, as human populations increase and the threats from illegal activities such as encroachment and illegal logging grow, the protection provided by the Rhino Protection Units (RPUs) remains essential for the survival of Indonesian megafauna. Since 2003, apprehension and prosecution of poachers and other violators has been very successful, and many activities of the RPUs now are being directed to intelligence gathering for law enforcement. Cooperation with the authorities is good, but law enforcement is costly in Indonesia. Proactive protection measures are, for now, the best option to secure rhino populations and can only be achieved when there are dedicated and reliable teams in the field that can render poaching and other illegal activities both unprofitable and risky.</p>

<p>RPUs are highly trained four-man anti-poaching teams that intensively patrol key areas within national parks. RPUs deactivate traps and snares and identify and apprehend illegal intruders, including poachers, and investigate wildlife crime. Each RPU is led by a park ranger, who has the authority to carry firearms and arrest suspected poachers. The other three members of the RPU are recruited from local communities and are armed only with pepper spray for subduing uncooperative suspects. Recruits undergo a rigorous selection process that includes running, swimming, hiking, and other physical activities, followed by an intensive training course. Training includes classroom instruction and field exercises, including navigation, record taking and law enforcement practices. Only candidates that pass the final test are recruited – and competition is fierce.</p>



<p>RPUs immediately remove any traps or snares discovered during patrols and investigate any illegal activity. If appropriate, evidence is collected, arrests are made, and a crime report prepared. Perpetrators are taken to the National Park headquarters for further processing by a civil investigator from the Park or the police. Beyond this point, the RPUs have no further role, but are called as witness if the case is brought to court. The National Park and the police are the two bodies responsible for preparation of a case and formally charging suspects.</p>

<p>Proactive poaching prevention is the main objective. RPU patrols, deployed for ~15 days in the rainforest per month per Unit, increase the risks for potential poachers, while decreasing chances for a good 'take'. This deterrent has worked well over the past years, and once an area is regularly patrolled, normally no more poaching is detected and all other wildlife indirectly benefits from the presence of the RPUs. RPUs also record data on rhino sightings, footprints and other spoor, which is entered into a central database.</p>

<h3>Sumatran Rhinos</h3>
<p><em>Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park</em> (BBS) in Sumatra, Indonesia, is one of the highest priority areas for Sumatran megafauna. Approximately 50-70 rhino, 40-50 tigers, and about 500 elephants inhabit the Park. RPUs have been operating in BBS since 1995. Originally, the RPUs focused on rhino, but now cover all the megafauna and habitats in both the southern and northern portions of the Park, counteracting all forms of wildlife crime and habitat destruction, such as illegal logging and encroachment. This work is augmented by a law enforcement and advocacy program (Intelligence and Law Enforcement Unit or ILEU) that facilitates prosecution of poachers. Eight anti-poaching units are now in operation.</p>

<p>In the last six months, BBS RPU patrolling resulted in:</p>

<ul>
	<li>58 rhino footprints identified.</li>
	<li>1 instance of illegal logging encountered.</li>
	<li>1 instance of encroachment encountered </li>
	<li>1 instance of fish, bird, deer and/or pig poaching encountered.</li>
	<li>8 investigations conducted to gather information on illegal wildlife trade near park boundaries.</li>
</ul>

<p>The RPUs interact intensively with local communities, including intelligence gathering. RPUs have aided farmers living next to the Park in improving environmentally friendly crop production, which has resulted in a decrease in encroachment and an overall increase in income for the farmers. Farmers have switched a portion of their crops to cacao, which allows harvest monthly, as opposed to coffee, which provides only an annual harvest. In some areas in BBS, encroachment has decreased by as much as...</p>

<p>Want to read the rest of this article?  For this and many more fascinating articles every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum. AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. <a href="/join/">JOIN NOW</a>!</p>