After Being Treated For 2 Months, The Sumatran Tigers Were Released Again Into The Gayo Lues Forest

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - The Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) released a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) into the protected forest area of Sangir, Gayo Lues Regency.

Head of the Aceh BKSDA Agus Arianto in Banda Aceh, said the female Sumatran tiger was named Siti Mulye Putri Reuko. The name was given by the community as a form of their commitment to protect protected animals.

"Previously, Siti Mulye Putri Reuko was evacuated because she was caught in a snare that left her leg injured. Furthermore, the Sumatran tiger was taken to Blangkejeren, the capital of Gayo Lues Regency, to undergo treatment," Agus Arianto said, Wednesday, October 19.

After undergoing treatment for more than two months, Agus Arianto said, the medical team declared Siti Mulye Putri Reuko healthy and worthy of being released into her habitat. The release took place on Tuesday, October 18 yesterday.

The location of the release is in a protected forest area of Sangir Village, which is not far from where the tiger was evacuated. The protected forest area is the tiger's habitat.

"The forest area where the release is a proposal from the community. The local community believes that the tiger is a resident of the protected forest area, so it must be returned to its place of origin," said Agus Arianto.

Agus Arianto said that his party continues to try to mitigate and deal with negative interactions between protected wildlife. In handling, BKSDA cannot work alone, but it requires an active role from the community and local government support.

"We give our appreciation to the people and the Gayo Lues Regency Government who have supported the rescue of Siti Mulye Putri Reuko. This support should be an example for other people who live side by side with wildlife," said Agus Arianto.

Based on the list of animal scarcity issued by the world conservation agency International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), this animal, which is only found on the island of Sumatra, is a critically endangered species, at high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Aceh BKSDA appealed to the community to jointly preserve the Sumatran tiger by not destroying the forest which is the habitat of various types of animals.

And not to catch, injure, kill, store, possess, maintain, transport, and trade protected animals alive or dead.

Then, do not 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 Sumatran tigers, with humans. This conflict resulted in economic losses to casualties, both humans and the survival of the wildlife.

"We hope that with the release, the tiger can breed and increase its population in nature. We are also monitoring its movements to ensure its development in the habitat," said Agus Arianto.