Indonesia park rangers intercept illegal hikers on Mount Semeru

Malang, Jawa Timur (ANTARA) - Park authorities in East Java have intercepted four people following an unauthorized expedition on the restricted slopes of Mount Semeru that left one hiker injured and temporarily stranded, officials said Thursday.

The incident highlights growing concerns over unauthorized tourism within the highly protected Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS), an active volcanic zone.

Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha, head of the national park office, stated in Malang that rangers initially intercepted three members of the group—consisting of two local trekking guides and a porter—on Monday near the Taman Satriyan park management resort in the Malang district.

"Based on information gathered from the three men, one hiker had been left behind on the illegal route due to an injury, prompting an immediate evacuation mission," Nugraha said.

A joint emergency response team consisting of national park rangers, registered tour assistants, and local volunteers located the stranded hiker, who had sustained a leg injury, late Tuesday afternoon.

The casualty was safely extracted from the rugged terrain by midnight and admitted to a hospital in Tumpang early Wednesday morning for medical treatment.

Following the rescue, park authorities handed the case over to the Ministry of Forestry’s regional law enforcement center for Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara to determine administrative or legal penalties.

Under Indonesian forestry regulations, entering restricted conservation zones via unsanctioned routes can result in heavy fines and official blacklisting from national parks.

Mount Semeru, the highest peak on Indonesia's main island of Java, frequently closes its climbing routes due to high volcanic activity and dangerous terrain.

The latest incident follows a broader push by rangers to curb illegal trekking in the park.

During recent monitoring operations, park authorities intercepted 13 other unauthorized hikers: two near the Ranupani checkpoint in Lumajang district and 11 in the Taman Satriyan sector.

"We urge the public not to climb through illegal routes," Nugraha said. "Such activities not only violate prevailing regulations but also pose an extreme risk to personal safety."

Translator: Bayu Prasetyo

Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono

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