Residents were startled, BKSDA ensures that the trail in East Lampung is not a tiger

Joint officers during the inspection and analysis of the suspected traces of wildlife belonging to the Sumatran Tiger that had shaken residents in East Lampung. ANTARA/HO/BKSDA Bengkulu-Lampung region

LAMPUNG TIMUR - The Lampung Provincial Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has confirmed that the wildlife trail that had disturbed residents in Sribhawono Village, Bandar Sribhawono District, East Lampung Regency, was not a Sumatran tiger trail.

The first forest ecosystem operator of the KSDA Section III Lampung BKSDA Bengkulu, Irhamuddin, said that the certainty was obtained after his party conducted an examination and analysis of the traces found by residents.

"Based on reports from the community on Friday, January 9, about the traces that were allegedly owned by the tiger, we actually did a brief analysis based on photos and videos sent by local residents. From the initial identification, the track was the track of a dog or other cat-like animal," said Irhamuddin when contacted from South Lampung, Antara, Sunday, January 11.

The results of the follow-up analysis in the field also confirmed that there were no signs of the presence of Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) at the location.

"We have checked directly to the location. The conclusion is that there are no signs of the existence of Sumatran tigers. What we found was only the dog's footprints. In fact, we found the dog's footprints again in the residents' garden which is not far from the location of the initial discovery," he said.

Irhamuddin said the conclusion was obtained from the results of measuring the size of the footprint and the characteristics of the footprint found in the field.

"Sumatran tigers have large bodies. If they walk normally without being pressed, the nails on their fingers will not appear on the footprints. Meanwhile, the traces we found actually show clear nail marks that pierce the ground," he said.

The BKSDA also appealed to the public to remain calm and immediately report to the officers if they find traces or signs of the presence of suspicious wildlife around the settlement.