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.