Injured tiger not to be released

Injured tiger not to be released

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: The Tanjungkarang office of natural
preservation has decided not to release a female Sumatran tiger
(Panthera tigris) which was trapped last week in a West Lampung
forest and lost one of its forelegs.

Office head Harjanto Wahju Sukotjo was quoted by Antara as
saying yesterday the tiger will be kept, and included in the
breeding program of the Safari Park in Bogor, West Java. He did
not say when the rare tiger will be transported there, but added
that it would be difficult for the injured tiger to hunt at
present.

Locals hunting for wild boars accidentally trapped the tiger.

The news agency said there was no exact data on the Sumatran
tiger population in the Lampung forest. However, in the Way
Kambas National Park in Central Lampung, conservationists have
found at least 20 tigers in the 130,000 hectare area.

The population is expected to be larger in Bukit Barisan
Selatan National Park which includes 350,000 hectares from West
Lampung to Bengkulu province. (swe)