East Aceh Residents Report Tiger Attacks On Livestock, BKSDA Intervenes

Documentation - Pawang Syarwani (70) helps evacuate Sumatran tigers (ANTARA)

ACEH - The Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has checked the presence of the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) which is reported to have preyed on community livestock in East Aceh Regency.

The head of the Aceh BKSDA, Agus Arianto, said that the check was carried out to ensure that the information contained tigers preying on people's livestock or vice versa.

"We have received information about tiger disturbance in East Aceh Regency, but the information needs to be checked so that it can be handled," he said in Banda Aceh, Antara, Monday, December 27.

Previously, the community of Punti Payong Village, Peureulak District, East Aceh Regency, reported the disturbance of the Sumatran tiger. These protected animals are reported to have preyed on community livestock.

According to Agus Arianto, the check is to collect information, including where the tiger disturbance is located, whether outside the forest area or inside the forest area.

In addition, he said, the checks were to obtain information on how many individuals were, what the pattern of the community's livestock was, whether they were caged or released. "If there are reports of disturbances and information is obtained, we will send a team. The team will deal with tiger disturbances and bring the protected animals into their habitat," said Agus Arianto.

On the other hand, according to him, his party cannot do anything if the tiger preys on livestock in a protected forest area. This is because the area is a tiger habitat.

"If that's the case, then what we can do is urge people not to release their livestock into forest areas which are tiger habitats," said Agus Arianto.

Based on the list of animal rarities issued by the world conservation agency, namely the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the Sumatran tiger is only found on the island of Sumatra.

From the list of endangered species of the world's conservation organizations, these protected animals have the status of critically endangered species, with a high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Aceh BKSDA appeals to the community to jointly maintain sustainability, especially the Sumatran tiger, by not destroying the forest which is the habitat of various types of animals.

In addition, the public is also advised not to catch, injure, kill, store, possess, maintain, transport and trade protected animals alive or dead.

Then, the public is also asked not to install snares, poisons, high-voltage electric fences that can cause the death of protected wildlife. All illegal acts are subject to criminal sanctions in accordance with statutory regulations.

In addition, other illegal activities can also cause wildlife conflicts, especially the Sumatran tiger with humans. This conflict resulted in economic losses to casualties, both humans and the survival of the wildlife.

"We express our gratitude to the community, other related parties and partners who support the rescue of the Sumatran tiger. This support is an effort to preserve protected animals in Aceh Province," said Agus Arianto.