JP\/2\/TIGER<\/p>\n
Poisoning threatens tiger population
\n
\nSyofiardi Bachyul Jb
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Padang<\/p>\n
Villagers poisoning Sumatran tigers in West Sumatra need to be
\nstopped before the problem escalates, a non-governmental
\norganization activist says.<\/p>\n
Since 1982, at least 10 tigers have died after being poisoned
\nby villagers who feared they would become their next victims.<\/p>\n
Worse, due to their loss of habitat and prey, more tigers are
\nat risk of poisoning as they venture into residential areas in
\nsearch of food.<\/p>\n
The worst case of tiger poisoning took place in 1986 when four
\nSumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatraensis) died of poisoning
\nin Tanah Datar here. The latest incident occurred last month when
\nfour tigers died after eating poisoned meat left out for them by
\nvillagers in Padang Pariaman.<\/p>\n
Djoko Suhardjo, an official with the West Sumatra Natural
\nResource Conservation Body (BKSDA), said the general public and
\nthe government needed to take action to reverse the dwindling
\ntiger population. He said the appearance of these jungle-dwelling
\nanimals in villages was the fault of humans and not the tigers.<\/p>\n
\"The residents on the border between human settlements and the
\nforest have often encroached into the forest area, thus reducing
\nthe tiger's habitat,\" said Djoko.<\/p>\n
He said villagers had established coffee and clove plantations
\non previously forested land, with each plantation between one and
\n1.5 hectares in area.<\/p>\n
Illegal logging is also blamed for the shrinking of the
\ntiger's habitat.<\/p>\n
There are between 200 and 300 tigers left on Sumatra island
\nwith some 20 of them living in West Sumatra forest.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp2tiger-1447899208",
"image": ""
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