Sumatran Tiger Wandering Near Religious School Evacuated by Kemenhut 

DOK Ministry of Social Affairs

JAKARTA - The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) that roamed around settlements and schools in Nagari Pasia Laweh, Palupuh District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, was finally evacuated after entering a trap set by the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).

The appearance of the protected animal had made residents uneasy because previously it preyed on livestock and was seen several times around public facilities. The location of its appearance is even only tens of meters from schools and mosques.

Head of the Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Forestry, Ristianto Pribadi, said that the report on the tiger's attack on residents' livestock was received by the West Sumatra BKSDA on Monday, August 10, 2026.

"On Monday, August 10 at 16.30 WIB, the West Sumatra Regional Office of the Directorate General of Water Resources received a report from the public that 2 goats belonging to residents were victims of the Sumatran Tiger. The Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) team immediately went to the field for verification," said Ristianto in his statement, Thursday, August 13.

From the results of the verification, officers found one dead goat in the cage with bite wounds on the neck. Meanwhile, another goat was taken to the bushes and only left two front legs.

BKSDA noted that the location of the attack was about 50 meters behind SDN 10 Palimbatan, about 100 meters from SMP Negeri 1 Palupuh, and about 150 meters from the Syukra Mosque. The proximity of the location to educational facilities makes the risk of human-wildlife conflict a serious concern.

The appearance of the tiger in the area is also not the first incident. Previously, on July 31, 2026, a tiger was reported to have preyed on dogs and goats belonging to residents in the same area.

Because the frequency of appearance keeps repeating, the West Sumatra BKSDA set up a trap trap or box trap on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, around 18.00 WIB.

The effort bore fruit in a short time. Around 19.45 WIB, the tiger managed to enter the trap.

"The West Sumatra KSDA Office team, currently has evacuated the Sumatran tiger in coordination with the Palupuh Police to ensure that the evacuation process is safe and under control. The evacuation is carried out by prioritizing the safety of the community while minimizing the risk to the animals," said Ristianto.

After being evacuated, the Sumatran tiger was entrusted to a conservation agency to undergo a health examination by a medical team and veterinarians. The examination will be the basis for determining the next conservation treatment steps.

The Ministry of Forestry assessed that the rapid handling in Agam was part of the policy of the Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni who placed mitigation of human-wildlife conflict as one of the priorities in conservation management.

The approach not only focuses on handling after the conflict occurs, but also includes strengthening early detection, field response, community education, and handling animals in a measurable manner. Box trap installation is carried out to reduce the risk of repeated interactions, especially because the location of the incident is around schools and public facilities.

The handling of this conflict is also associated with President Prabowo Subianto's attention to the protection of Indonesia's natural resources and biodiversity. The protection of the Sumatran Tiger is seen as part of efforts to maintain the ecosystem while ensuring sustainable management of natural resources.

Therefore, handling human-wildlife conflicts must maintain a balance between community safety and conservation principles. Any action against protected animals is carried out based on field conditions, technical studies, and applicable conservation provisions.

The Ministry of Forestry appeals to the public around the location to remain vigilant because the area is a potential wildlife passage. Residents are asked to avoid solitary activities at night, not to approach or chase wildlife, and to immediately report the appearance of Sumatran tigers to BKSDA or local authorities.