Sun Bear Reportedly Entered The Settlement Of Baringin Agam Village, West Sumatra

AGAM - A sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) was reported to have entered a settlement in Baringin Village, Baringin Nagari, Palembayan District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra.

The head of the Baringin Nagari (Pagari) Patrol Team, Robi Arlin, said that residents found this sun bear while eating a resident's durian on Tuesday, November 2.

"Residents saw a bear eating a resident's durian fruit," he said, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, November 3.

He said the Pagari Baringin Team was verifying the report and would conduct a site check.

The location of the bear's appearance is about two kilometers with the sun bear appearing to the residents' settlements in Sungai Taleh, Nagari Baringin since three months ago.

In Sungai Taleh, he added, the bear had troubled local residents because it was often found by children when they went to school, damaging crops and appearing behind people's houses.

"The Natural Resources Conservation Resort (KSDA) of Agam has installed a trap cage unit in the Taleh River," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Agam KSDA Resort, Ade Putra, said the sun bear that appeared in Baringin Village was suspected to be the same individual in Sungai Taleh.

"We have also received reports from residents and the information is being handled by the Pagari Baringin Team," he said.

The Agam KSDA resort is currently focusing on dealing with the conflict in the Taleh River by installing trap cages.

The trap cage which was baited with jackfruit was installed until the bear entered the trap for evacuation because the area is a residential area, the distance from the forest area is quite far and it often appears.

If it enters a trap cage, he added, the animal will be identified and observed at the Agam KSDA Resort office.

After that the animals protected by Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems were released into the wild into their habitats.