West Sumatra BKSDA evacuates tiger trapped in Pasaman

Lubuk Basung (ANTARA) – The West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Sumatera Barat) evacuated one Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) that was caught in a boar snare in Jorong Lima Sumpadang, Nagari Padang Mantigi Utara, Rao Utara District, Pasaman Regency, on Thursday.

Head of Regional Conservation Section I, BKSDA Sumbar, Antonius Vevri, in Lubuk Basung, said the protected animal, with the Latin name Panthera tigris sumatrae, was trapped by four snares around its neck and one on its front leg.

“Five snares wrapped around the neck and front leg were removed and we immediately evacuated it around 16:00 WIB,” he said.

The tiger was subsequently taken to the BKSDA Sumbar Wildlife Care Centre in Padang for observation and care over the coming days.

Upon receiving the report, the West Sumatra BKSDA team along with the Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) and Pagari (Patrol of Village) went to the site.

Thereafter, the West Sumatra BKSDA team, COP, Pagari, Rao Police Station and local residents evacuated the animal.

“We evacuated the animal after it was sedated by the medical team,” he said.

In light of the incident, he urged residents not to set boar snares in plantation areas that affect protected wildlife such as the Sumatran tiger, bears and others.

One Rao Pasaman Lima Sumpadang resident, Juliati (38), said she first saw the tiger snared while going to the fields on Thursday, around 08:00 WIB.

After seeing the snared tiger, she immediately reported the incident to the Rao Police Station.

“I was shocked to see a tiger cub caught in a snare and immediately went to the settlement to report to the Rao Police Station,” she said.