Way Kambas

Way Kambas National Park protects 125,621 hectares of lowland forest and wetland ecosystems in southern Sumatra, serving as one of Indonesia's most important sites for Sumatran elephant conservation with a population of over 180 individuals. The park's diverse habitats include freshwater swamp forests, tall grasslands, and coastal areas that support Sumatran tigers, Sumatran rhinoceros (possibly extinct in the park), and numerous bird species including the endangered Storm's stork. The Elephant Conservation Center within the park trains confiscated and problem elephants for patrol work, providing a model for human-elephant conflict mitigation being replicated elsewhere in Indonesia. Extensive grasslands along the Way Kanan River create open landscapes unusual in Sumatra's typically closed-canopy forests, offering exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. Established in 1989, the park represents a critical refuge for Sumatra's endangered megafauna amid surrounding agricultural development and plantations.

The area was designated as a game reserve in 1937 during Dutch colonial administration, with recognition of its importance for elephants and tigers even as surrounding forests were being converted to agriculture. National park status was granted in 1989 to strengthen protection, though conflicts with local communities over land rights continued for years. The Elephant Training Center (now Elephant Conservation Center) was established in the 1980s to address human-elephant conflict by training problem elephants captured from crop-raiding situations. The park gained international attention as a key site for Sumatran rhino conservation, though the population has declined to possibly zero, with the last confirmed sighting in the early 2000s. Illegal logging and encroachment have been ongoing threats, with buffer zone communities depending on forest resources creating ongoing management challenges. Recent conservation efforts have focused on community partnerships, elephant patrol programs that use trained elephants for anti-poaching work, and tiger monitoring using camera traps.

The park is located about 110 kilometers from Bandar Lampung, Lampung Province's capital, with reasonable road access to main entry points at Rajabasa and Labuhan Ratu. The Elephant Conservation Center can be visited on day trips, with opportunities to observe elephant training sessions and conservation education programs. Accommodation options include basic guesthouses in nearby villages and camping at designated sites within the park for multi-day visits. Wildlife viewing focuses on elephant sightings, particularly in grassland areas along the Way Kanan River where herds often gather, with early morning and late afternoon offering the best opportunities. Bird watching is rewarding year-round, with wetland areas supporting resident and migratory species including the rare Storm's stork and various herons and kingfishers. The dry season from May to September provides the best access and wildlife viewing conditions, with animals concentrating around water sources and reduced vegetation making observation easier.

Elephant conservation combines habitat protection with innovative conflict mitigation using trained elephant patrols that help rangers detect poachers and illegal loggers. Human-elephant conflict remains a major challenge, with crop-raiding elephants creating economic losses for communities and occasionally resulting in elephant deaths from retaliatory killing. Tiger population monitoring through camera trap surveys has documented a small but stable population, with connectivity to other forest areas crucial for long-term viability. The park's grasslands require management including controlled burning to prevent forest encroachment and maintain the open habitats valued by elephants and grassland bird species. Habitat restoration efforts target degraded areas, particularly along park boundaries where illegal logging and encroachment have fragmented forests. Community engagement programs work with buffer zone villages to develop sustainable livelihoods reducing dependence on park resources, with eco-tourism initiatives providing alternative income sources.