Jungle justice, tigers kill illegal loggers<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Dozens of illegal loggers in the forests of Senepis, Bulu Hala
\nand Santa Hulu in Dumai regency, Riau, have been preyed upon by
\ntigers over the last three years, officials said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
"The deaths of illegal loggers, having been attacked by
\ntigers, are based on reports from local people," head of the
\nDumai natural resources conservation resort office Jusman told
\nAntara.<\/p>\n
He said the victims were generally illegal loggers from
\noutside Dumai, recruited by bosses from North Sumatra and Java.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Dumai, Jusman said the deaths were usually not
\nreported to local authorities as the victims were not local
\nresidents.<\/p>\n
The cases became known about as the dead victims included at
\nleast seven loggers from Dumai, he added.<\/p>\n
The death of seven locals from the neighborhoods of Sungai
\nSembilan and Pelintung was recorded between August 2002 and
\nSeptember this year.<\/p>\n
Jusman admitted that the tigers had become ferocious because
\ntheir habitat was being destroyed due to uncontrolled logging,
\nand they were starving.<\/p>\n
"Dumai's forests have increasingly being used for settlement
\nand plantations, quite apart from widespread illegal logging," he
\npointed out.<\/p>\n
Jusman continued that the Dumai forests were home to about 40
\nSumatra tigers, with some posing a serious threat to local
\npeople.<\/p>\n
At least 10 were caught earlier this year, six of which were
\nsent to Bogor Safari Park, West Java, three killed and another
\nreleased in Senepis.<\/p>\n
"We have advised local people not to take revenge against the
\nanimals. They appear to have accepted the advice as they don't
\nwish to kill them, but instead safeguard and protect them,"
\nJusman said.<\/p>\n
He added the Dumai administration has declared 60,000 hectares
\nof the Senepis forest a zone for tiger conservation.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jungle-justice-tigers-kill-illegal-loggers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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