Leuser Ecosystem - National Park Senior Team Receives SMART Ranger Patrol Training in Thailand

January 2016

Global Conservation is supporting the implementation of SMART Ranger Patrols for Leuser National Park for the protection of endangered wildlife including the world’s last remaining Sumatran Rhino, Elephants, Tigers and Orangutans.

As part of this program, our partner – Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) – led a training mission for management of the Gunung Leuser National Park in Thailand at the  Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Forest Complex of Thailand in order to see how a proper SMART patrolling system operates. 

Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary has achieved excellent results towards ‘No Kill, No Cut’ protection since the SMART Patrols have been implemented over the past five years.  Previously, Huai Kha Khaeng and its neighboring parks were highly endangered areas with heavy poaching of wildlife and destruction of primary forests.

Leuser National Park Ranger Team leaders spent a month with their Thai counterparts and learned many of the management and protection systems used and deployed at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary. Below are some highlights of the training mission.

Rivercrossing for SMART Ranger Patrols (All Photos WCS)

Thung Yai East Head Ranger explains the sector and guard post locations in the area.

Field Training for SMART Ranger Patrols from Leuser Ecosystem in Thailand.

Leuser National Park staff receiving SMART training with their Thai counterparts.

Training on SMART and GPS.