Pemancing Lari Terbirit-birit Berhadapan Harimau Sumatera di Kebun Sawit Siak

JAKARTA - The Riau Provincial Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) found traces of Sumatran tigers after a resident named Zulfikar admitted to meeting the wild animal in Teluk Masjid Village, Sungai Apit District, Siak Regency.

Head of Technical Section of BBKSDA Riau, Ujang Holisudin explained, the witness said the meeting took place around 19.00 WIB on Thursday, January 8. For this reason, the BBKSDA team checked to ensure the conditions on the ground.

"The results of field checks carried out on Friday (9 January) found traces of Sumatran tigers measuring around 12 centimeters in the area of the Tinera Jaya Cooperative oil palm plantation," Ujang said in a written statement in Pekanbaru, Riau, Sunday, January 11, quoted by Antara.

Ujang explained that Zulfikar admitted that he was on his way following two friends who had previously fished in the oil palm plantation area owned by the Tinera Jaya Cooperative. Then on the way, Zulfikar suddenly felt like he was being watched by the eyes from a distance.

The witness initially suspected that the light was from a cow but after directing the flashlight towards it he saw a Sumatran tiger about four meters from his position, separated by a ditch between the road and the garden.

In a state of fear, Zulfikar immediately moved away and sought shelter, until he found a cooperative workers' hut. At this location, he also warned his two colleagues to immediately take shelter and not continue their activities.

Furthermore, Ujang explained that from the results of field checks, the team found traces of Sumatran tigers leading to the Production Forest (HP) area of an oil palm plantation owned by the Tinera Jaya Cooperative with a distance of about four kilometers from the meeting point. The team estimates that only one tiger crossed the location

Based on these findings, the BBKSDA Riau team also carried out socialization and gave advice to the community through the village government to increase vigilance.

"The team asks residents not to be alone, prioritize group activities, and avoid activities too early, in the afternoon, and at night, which are the active time of Sumatran tigers," he said.