It's Been Eight Days, The Sumatran Tiger That Entered The Residents' Settlements In West Sumatra Has Not Been Caught

KSDA Agam Resort Officer, West Sumatra is checking the trap camera. ANTARA/Yusrizal

W Sumatra - The Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of West Sumatra (West Sumatra) through the Agam Resort has not been able to catch the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) that has entered residential areas.

The tiger is reported to be roaming around Maua Hilia, Jorong Kayu Pasak Timur, Nagari Salreh Aia, Palembayan District, but has not been caught yet despite having set up a trap cage in this area for eight days.

"The tiger has not yet entered the trap cage that we have installed on palm oil plantations owned by local residents," said Head of the Natural Resources Conservation Resort (KSDA) Agam Ade Putra, in Lubukbasung, as reported by Antara, Wednesday, December 29.

He said the Agam KSDA Resort installed two trap cages at the location where the footprints of endangered species protected by Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems were found.

The trap cage was installed at a distance of about 400 meters, and camera traps were installed at that location to monitor the presence of the animal.

On the second day, he said, the tiger had approached the trap cage, but did not enter the trap cage.

"This is based on the visual images we obtained from the installed camera traps," he said.

After that, the tiger headed to another location, so the trap cage was moved to the location the footprints just found.

However, the tiger did not enter the trap cage and no trace of its existence was found in the area.

Due to this condition, the installation of the trap cage was extended for the next seven days.

"We hope that the tiger will enter a trap cage, so that human-animal conflict will no longer exist," he said.

He admitted that the Agam KSDA Resort had been handling human conflicts with tigers since December 1, 2021, after a resident's cow was eaten by a tiger.

After that, his party expelled them for a few days, but the tigers reappeared and tried to win to evacuate them by installing two trap cages.

"We have set the trap cage for eight days and have not succeeded in catching the tiger," he said.