Tiger Cub Trapped in Riau Handed Over to BKSDA
A Sumatran tiger cub has been successfully captured after becoming trapped in a snare set by residents in Pulau Muda Village, Teluk Meranti District, Pelalawan Regency. The cub has since been handed over to the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Centre (Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam – BKSDA).
“The tiger cub has been transferred to the BKSDA,” stated Pelalawan Police Chief AKBP John Louis Letedara in a statement on Thursday 12 March 2026.
Letedara explained that the cub has been taken to Pekanbaru for intensive medical examination and behavioural observation before a decision is made regarding a safe location for its release back into the wild.
“It has been transported to Pekanbaru to undergo intensive medical examination and behavioural observation, before a decision is made on a safe location for its release,” he said.
The incident began on Monday evening (9 March) when a tiger allegedly entered a residential area and killed a goat belonging to a resident named Hamzah. Due to safety concerns at night, the livestock owner only checked the situation the following morning.
“On Tuesday morning, the livestock owner discovered the goat was dead with its hind legs and abdomen having been consumed. The location was only approximately 30 metres from the house kitchen,” he explained.
Upon learning of this, Hamzah, together with community leaders and a health, safety and environmental (HSE) team from PT Arara Abadi, took the initiative to set an iron trap baited with the remains of the dead goat to prevent wider conflict between humans and wildlife.
Within hours of the trap being set, loud noises were heard coming from the snare. Upon checking, a Sumatran tiger cub was found inside the trap.
This discovery was immediately reported to the head of Pulau Muda Village and forwarded to Teluk Meranti Police Substation and the Riau BKSDA. Pelalawan Police urged the public to remain calm but vigilant, noting that the presence of a tiger cub typically indicates that its mother remains in the vicinity.