Riau BBKSDA Installs Tiger Traps in Pulau Burung
To mitigate negative interactions between humans and Sumatran tigers, the Riau Great Office for Natural Resources Conservation (BBKSDA) is preparing box traps. Previously, the BBKSDA Riau rapid response team conducted community socialisation and monitoring by installing camera traps to address public complaints regarding tiger terror in Pulau Burung.
“The team is continuously undertaking mitigation efforts, socialisation, and tiger monitoring. Today, we are preparing box traps, and we hope to install them as soon as they are ready,” said Ujang Holisudin, Head of the Technical Division of BBKS_KDA Riau, on Sunday (2/8).
Furthermore, Ujang added that the agency will increase field teams to monitor Sumatran tigers using thermal drones. Currently, the BBKSDA team is still conducting socialisation with the community to ensure the safety of both Sumatran tigers and humans during these negative interactions.
This action follows reports of Sumatran tigers entering residential areas and attacking livestock in Sungai Danai Village, Pulau Burung District, Indragiri Hilir (Inhil) Regency, Riau, which occurred on Friday (24/7). In response, BBKSDA Riau deployed the Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) to conduct inspections and mitigation.
Supartono, Head of BBKSDA Riau, stated that based on identification by the WRU team—accompanied by village officials and the Head of Criminal Investigation of the Pulau Burung Police—new Sumatran tiger tracks were discovered, with a paw print measuring 14 cm in length and 13 cm in width.
“To track the movement of the Sumatran tiger, the team is installing camera traps and conducting aerial monitoring using drones around the incident site,” he said.
As a preventive measure, Supartono noted that the team is conducting socialisation and education for the community and village officials to increase vigilance when working in plantations or near the incident site. He also advised that livestock, such as cattle and goats, should be penned to prevent attracting tigers to settlements, and suggested using spirit cannons to deter tigers and encourage them to return to their natural habitat.
The Director General of KSDAE, Satyawan Pudyatmoko, emphasised that the Sumatran Tiger is a key species protected by law and a pride of Sumatra. “Therefore, let us protect nature and its inhabitants for the welfare of the community,” he said.
The public is urged to immediately report any sightings of Sumatran tigers to BBKSDA Riau officers or local authorities to support further handling. “Let us work together to preserve protected species while ensuring the safety of the community’s living space,” he concluded.