The Bukit Tigapuluh landscape in Jambi represents one of the remaining lowland forest ecosystems in Sumatra that supports a range of threatened wildlife species, including the Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus). However, the area is experiencing increasing pressure from forest encroachment, small-scale land conversion, and unsustainable hunting practices.

One of the most serious and often underestimated threats to wildlife in the landscape is the widespread use of wire snares. These traps are commonly set to capture wild pigs, deer, and other animals, but they are non-selective and frequently injure or kill non-target species. Sun bears are particularly vulnerable due to their wide-ranging movement and ground foraging behavior. Snaring incidents often go undetected, as most affected areas are located in remote forest-edge zones with limited monitoring.

This project by the AKASIA Conservation Initiative (funded by Bears in Mind since 2026) aims to reduce snare-related threats to sun bears through a community-based forest monitoring and removal approach in selected villages surrounding the Bukit Tigapuluh landscape. The program will establish and train three community patrol groups (approximately 30 members) to identify wildlife snares, recognize signs of illegal hunting, and safely report and remove traps under guidance.

Community awareness activities will complement field efforts by increasing understanding of the ecological role and protected status of sun bears and the broader impacts of snaring on wildlife populations. Patrol teams will conduct regular forest-edge surveys, documenting snares and sharing information with relevant local authorities and conservation stakeholders.

Expected outcomes include the removal of active snares, improved local monitoring capacity, reduced hunting pressure in key habitat areas, and strengthened community stewardship to support long-term protection of sun bears in the Bukit Tigapuluh landscape.