Hundreds of Fishermen Around Karang Gading Wildlife Reserve Reached by Campaign

Over three hundreds of fishermen from six villages around the Karang Gading and Langkat Timur Laut Wildlife Reserve reached by the socialization and campaign activity conducted by the Satucita Lestari Indonesia Foundation and the Agency of Conservation of Natural Resources (BBKSDA) Province of North Sumatra.

The socialization and campaign were held from February to April 2025. The team visited and held a village meeting with fishermen in six villages during that time. Those villages are Karang Gading, Suka Maju, Karya Maju, Sungai Ular, Selotong, Pantai Gading. These villages border wildlife reserve and have rivers that are habitat for critically endangered species Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) in the Regency of Langkat and Deli Serdang, Province of North Sumatera.

The team of the Satucita Foundation and BBKSDA North Sumatera presented about the status and conservation of Painted terrapin to fishermen group in each village. Generally, fishermen were enthusiast to get involved in the socialization. They were also giving a new information of the distribution of Painted terrapin in this area, confirming the population decline in the area for the last three to four decades, the threats.

The team were also installed a signboard in each village to increase the public awareness. For the evaluation of the campaign, the team interviewed the participants by using questionnaire. By using pre and post questionnaire analysis, the socialization succeeds in increasing fishermen knowledge for about 37.5 percent. The results were varied between villages and educational background.

For the readers who want to know further information and report on this activity are may to contact the Foundation.

The educational and socialization activity conducted by the Foundation and BBKSDA North Sumatera has reached 600 villagers of 12 villages aroung Karang Gading and Langkat Timur Laut Wildlife Reserve between 2023 to 2025. The foundation will continue and strengthen the efforts to conserve Painted terrapin and its habitat in Aceh and North Sumatera.