Forestry Ministry Captures Sumatran Tiger After Livestock Attacks in West Sumatra

The Ministry of Forestry, via the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), has taken action to address a human-wildlife conflict involving a Sumatran tiger in Nagari Pasia Laweh, Palupuh District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra. According to a written statement from the ministry, the protected animal had previously preyed on residents’ livestock and was roaming near settlements and public facilities, including a school. After a trap was set, the tiger was successfully evacuated by the BKSDA team.

Ristianto Pribadi, Head of the Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Forestry, stated that the West Sumatra BKSDA received reports of the tiger attacking livestock on Monday afternoon, 10 August. ‘On Monday at 4.30 p.m. local time, the West Sumatra BKSDA received a report from the community that two goats belonging to a resident had fallen victim to a Sumatran tiger attack. The Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) team immediately went to the field for verification,’ Ristianto said in a written statement on Thursday, 13 August.

Based on the field verification, officers found one goat dead inside its pen with bite wounds to the neck. The other goat had been dragged into the bushes by the tiger, leaving only its two front legs. The location of the incident drew significant attention as it was quite close to several public facilities. Ristianto noted the site was approximately 50 metres behind SDN 10 Palimbatan primary school, about 100 metres from SMP Negeri 1 Palupuh junior high school, and roughly 150 metres from the Syukra Mosque.

He explained that the presence of the Sumatran tiger around residential and educational facilities heightened public concern. A previous negative interaction between the tiger and residents was also recorded on 31 July 2026, with a dog and a goat as victims. Due to the repeated frequency of incidents and the tiger still roaming near settlements and school areas, the West Sumatra BKSDA took action by installing a box trap on Tuesday, 11 August, at 6.00 p.m. local time. At around 7.45 p.m., the team still in the vicinity received a report from the caretaker of SDN 10 Palimbatan that the Sumatran tiger had entered the trap.

‘The West Sumatra BKSDA team has now evacuated the Sumatran tiger, coordinating with the Palupuh Police to ensure the evacuation process is safe and controlled. The evacuation prioritised public safety while minimising risk to the animal,’ Ristianto said. After being successfully evacuated, the tiger was entrusted to a conservation institution for further examination and handling. He stated that the rapid handling of the tiger conflict in Agam is in line with the policy of Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, who places human-wildlife conflict mitigation as an important part of conservation management. Ristianto noted that in the Palupuh case, installing the box trap was a mitigation step to reduce the risk of repeated interactions between the tiger and the community, especially given the incident’s proximity to schools and public facilities. ‘This commitment is also in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s attention to protecting Indonesia’s natural wealth and biodiversity,’ he said.