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)