Jakarta, March 12 -- President Prabowo Subianto is preparing a presidential instruction (Inpres) on safeguarding the populations and habitats of the Sumatran elephant and Bornean elephant.

The Presidential Secretariat here on Thursday said the president summoned Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni to the Merdeka Palace to discuss strategic steps to strengthen wildlife conservation and the management of national parks in Indonesia.

"If there is no serious intervention by the government, damage to elephant habitats will be inevitable," Antoni said after his meeting with President Prabowo.

According to him, the planned Inpres is an important step to protect elephant populations that are currently facing serious threats due to the shrinking...