Had Made Residents Worried, Finally The Sumatran Tiger Entered The Trap

Sumatran tiger caught in a trap (Photo via KLHK)

JAKARTA - The handling of conflicts between residents and the Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), has found a bright spot. This tiger was caught in a trap in Siundol Julu Village, Sosopan District, Padang Lawas Regency, last Thursday, December 16.

Plt. Head of the North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA Sumut) Irzal Azhar explained that the journey of handling this conflict began when two pet dogs of Siundol Julu Village residents were found dead, Monday (13/12). Residents suspect that their pet was eaten by a Sumatran tiger, because traces of it were found around the location.

For this incident, Irzal assigned his staff through the Conservation Section of Region VI of Pinang City to the Field of KSDA Region III Padangsidimpuan, to install a trap cage in Siundol Julu Village. This trap cage is the third trap cage after previously being installed in two villages, each in Hutabargot Village and Pagaranbira Jae Village.

Furthermore, on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, the chickens belonging to the residents of Siundol Julu Village were devoured, also suspected of being a Sumatran tiger, after traces of tigers were found around the location. The sweeping was then carried out by the North Sumatra KSDA Great Hall Team by checking the trap cages and checking the camera trap recordings that were installed. At that time, the king of the jungle did not appear to be recorded in the camera trap or in the trap cage.

On Friday, December 16, 2021, at around 12.15 WIT, officers checked 3 locations of trapping cages and the results were that the third trap cage installed in Siundol Julu Village, Sumatran Tigers was found in the cage.

"At a glance, the animal is in a weak condition," said Irzal, quoted from the PPID of the Ministry of LHK, Friday, December 17.

Seeing the condition of the Sumatran Tiger and to avoid unwanted things from the crowd of people who witnessed it, then the North Sumatra KSDA Central Team took action to evacuate the Sumatran Tiger to the Barumun Sumatran Tiger Sanctuary in Batu Nanggar Village, Kec. Batang Onang, Padang Lawas Regency. There the Sumatran tiger underwent health checks, treatment and rehabilitation before being released into its habitat.

The Regional Secretary of Padang Lawas Regency, Arpan Nasution, expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the North Sumatra KSDA Center Team and hoped for support and cooperation in handling conflicts with wild animals in the event of another conflict.

The handling of this conflict was supported by various parties, both from the police and the TNI, the Palas Regency Government, from community leaders including Padang Lawas DPRD member H. Lokot Nasution, as well as from partner institutions. For this reason, the North Sumatra KSDA Center also expressed appreciation and gratitude to the various parties who participated in helping from the beginning of conflict resolution to the process of evacuating Sumatran tigers.