Authorities Secure Young Sumatran Tiger Preying on Livestock in Pelalawan
The Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) together with related authorities and community members has successfully secured a young Sumatran tiger (Panthera Tigris Sumatrae). The juvenile tiger had previously been reported multiple times attacking livestock in the Tanjung Pulai hamlet, Pulau Muda village, Teluk Meranti district, Pelalawan regency, Riau province.
Ujang Holisudin, head of technical affairs at BBKSDA Riau, stated that the appearance of the protected animal had been monitored for some time in the vicinity of community settlements. On 25 February 2026, a Sumatran tiger was reported hunting goats belonging to residents, approaching a house terrace in the Tanjung Pulai area.
“Following this report, our team immediately conducted conflict mitigation efforts by installing box traps, but as of 3 March 2026 the animal had not yet been secured,” said Ujang on Thursday (12 March).
He explained that the incident recurred on Monday (9 March) around 20:00 WIB when a Sumatran tiger preyed on a goat kept in a pen belonging to a resident. The location of the incident was not far from the Simpang Tiga junction on the road to Pulau Muda village, which had been frequently reported in recent months as a point where the animal appears.
In response to this incident, on Tuesday (10 March) around 11:00 WIB, the team together with community members reinstalled the box trap at the location using the remains of the killed livestock as bait.
“That night around 21:00 WIB, when the team was conducting monitoring, the Sumatran tiger had entered the trap and was successfully secured,” Ujang stated.
Subsequently, on Wednesday (11 March), the team conducted evacuation by transferring the animal from the box trap to a transport cage through a sedation procedure performed by veterinary staff from the Riau BBKSDA.
“Based on preliminary screening results, the animal was identified as a young female Sumatran tiger estimated to be less than one year old,” he explained.
“Overall health condition is good with no wounds found on its body and it displays normal behaviour, though physically the animal appears to have a relatively lean body condition,” Ujang added.
Ujang further stated that for monitoring and health improvement purposes, the tiger is currently placed at the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation wildlife rescue centre, and after completion of this process, the Riau BBKSDA will consider releasing it as the best step for the animal’s survival in the wild.
“We express our gratitude for the active role of all parties in the field, including the military, police, local government, and community members in the mitigation effort against negative interaction with the Sumatran tiger,” said Ujang.
“We urge the community to remain vigilant and not take actions that could endanger their own safety or that of protected wildlife. Should community members find signs of Sumatran tiger presence around settlements, they are asked to immediately report to officials and can contact the call centre of the Riau BBKSDA so that appropriate handling measures can be implemented promptly,” concluded Ujang.