Dead Tiger In Bukit Meueh Village, South Aceh, 19 People Questioned By Police

The BKSDA team assisted by the TNI, Polri, and the community evacuated tiger carcasses that were found dead in South Aceh Regency. ANTARA/HO/Doc BKSDA Aceh

BANDA ACEH - The South Aceh Police examined 19 witnesses regarding the death of the Sumatran tiger (panthera tigris sumatrae) in Gampong Bukit Meueh, Meukek District, South Aceh District, some time ago.

"We have examined 19 witnesses for questioning, three from the Aceh BKSDA, two gampong officials, and the rest are local residents and farmers," said South Aceh Police Chief AKBP Nova Suryandaru, reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, March 21.

Previously, a female Sumatran tiger was found dead entangled in her neck on a local plantation in Bukit Meueh Village, Meukek District, South Aceh District, Saturday (11/3).

The Head of Police said that based on the results of an analysis by a team of veterinarians from the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), it was estimated that the protected animal had been dead for two days when it was found.

"It is estimated that the tiger died from suffocation after becoming entangled in the neck. However, the police are still investigating it by coordinating with experts and laboratory tests," said Nova Suryandaru.

Meanwhile, the snares that ensnare these protected animals, said Nova Suryandaru, were not for tigers, but for pigs. The location where the entangled dead tiger was found is on customary land managed by a local gampong or village farmer group.

"The land is customary village land managed by a farmer group consisting of 25 people from the local community. The area is approximately 10 hectares. The land is planted with peanuts," said the South Aceh Police Chief.

Apart from questioning witnesses, Nova Suryandaru said that South Aceh Police investigators had also collected a number of pieces of evidence. Among them are 10-meter-long snares and tiger carcasses.

"From the results of the initial examination, there was no intention of setting the snares. The snares were used to eradicate pigs which are often used as community agricultural land. The land is for the local community's food security program," said Nova.