Wed, 14 Apr 1999

Tiger kills 40 goats

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: At least 40 goats belonging to residents of the Pengekahan enclave in West Lampung have been killed by one or more Sumateran tigers (panthera tigris Sumatrae) in the past two weeks.

Some of the residents told Antara on Monday people were now afraid of being killed because of their dwindling goat population. Locals have stopped gathering coffee beans alone and going out after dusk.

A night watch has been set up in the neighborhood to protect the goats since the tiger first attacked on March 25, although this has not stopped the killings.

"The tiger must be an old one which can no longer go hunting in the forest," one of the residents said, adding that there might be more than one tiger killing the goats.

A South Bukit Barisan National Park (BTNBBS) official, Yusuf Indrabrata, said team from Way Kambas National Park had been called to capture the animals and send them back to the forest.