JP/2/TIGER

JP/2/TIGER

Poisoning threatens tiger population

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb
The Jakarta Post/Padang

Villagers poisoning Sumatran tigers in West Sumatra need to be
stopped before the problem escalates, a non-governmental
organization activist says.

Since 1982, at least 10 tigers have died after being poisoned
by villagers who feared they would become their next victims.

Worse, due to their loss of habitat and prey, more tigers are
at risk of poisoning as they venture into residential areas in
search of food.

The worst case of tiger poisoning took place in 1986 when four
Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatraensis) died of poisoning
in Tanah Datar here. The latest incident occurred last month when
four tigers died after eating poisoned meat left out for them by
villagers in Padang Pariaman.

Djoko Suhardjo, an official with the West Sumatra Natural
Resource Conservation Body (BKSDA), said the general public and
the government needed to take action to reverse the dwindling
tiger population. He said the appearance of these jungle-dwelling
animals in villages was the fault of humans and not the tigers.

"The residents on the border between human settlements and the
forest have often encroached into the forest area, thus reducing
the tiger's habitat," said Djoko.

He said villagers had established coffee and clove plantations
on previously forested land, with each plantation between one and
1.5 hectares in area.

Illegal logging is also blamed for the shrinking of the
tiger's habitat.

There are between 200 and 300 tigers left on Sumatra island
with some 20 of them living in West Sumatra forest.