Decreased Appetite And Suffering From Myiasis Wounds, Sumatran Tiger 'Puti Maua Agam' Dies In Rehabilitation Center

ARSARI's PR-HSD team was observing Puti Maua Agam last Wednesday. (ÀNTARA/PR-HSD ARSARI)

LUBUKBASUNG - Puti Maua Agam, a Sumatran tiger who was evacuated from the tiger-human conflict in Jorong Kayu Pasak Timur Nagari Salreh Aia, Palembayan District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, died of illness.

This tiger was previously in the rehabilitation process at the Sumatran Tiger Rehabilitation Center in Dharmasraya (PR HSD) ARSARI.

PR-HSD ARSARI Operational Manager, drh. Patrick Flaggellata said Puti's condition began to decline when he was observed to be sick on May 18, 2022 and experienced a decrease in appetite and several myiasis wounds.

"His condition had improved since May 27, but on June 6, 2022, Puti suddenly became ill again, followed by hypersalivation and could not be saved again on June 8, 2022," he said in Lubukbasung, Antara, Thursday, June 9.

He said that observations of the PR-HSD ARSARI Medical Team before his death showed that Puti had shortness of breath (60 times/minute). "The team gave him atropine sulfate and salbutamol nebula, and fed him using a wooden stick filled with meat feed but he didn't eat it," said Patrick, who was deeply saddened by Puti's death.

After Puti's death, the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center (KSDA) decided to perform a necropsy on the same day. The purpose of the necropsy was to obtain detailed information on the cause of Puti's death through laboratory testing of samples from the tiger's organs.

"We are very grateful for the hard work of the PR-HSD ARSARI team in rescuing, rehabilitating, and caring for Puti until the last moment," said the Head of the West Sumatra BKSDA, Ardi Andono, who led Puti's evacuation efforts.

Separately, Catrini Kubonbody, Executive Director of the ARSARI Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD) as the manager of PR-HSD expressed her concern.

"Puti's death is a big loss for all of us. Especially considering that the Sumatran tiger is a protected animal based on the regulations of the Minister of Environment and Forestry, and one of the main reasons is the availability of natural habitats where food for prey is decreasing.” he said.

This three-year-old female Sumatran tiger descended into the settlement due to lack of food due to African Swine Fever (ASF) which caused the mass death of wild boars in Agam of approximately 50 heads.

Upon arrival at PR-HSD ARSARI on January 12, 2022, Puti was immediately given a thorough medical examination and rehabilitation after being detected with helminthiasis, nutritional deficiency, and lymphocytosis.