Young Sumatran tiger captured near village in Indonesia
Ujang Holisudin, technical head of the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA), said the tiger was captured after a third attempt using bait.
On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, around 11:00 a.m. local time, a joint team of officials and residents installed a trap cage at the site using remains of previously killed livestock as bait.
“Later that night, around 9:00 p.m., during monitoring, the Sumatran tiger was found inside the trap cage and successfully secured,” Ujang said in Pekanbaru on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
The protected animal had been sighted repeatedly near residential areas in recent weeks, raising concerns among villagers in the region.
On Feb. 25, 2026, a Sumatran tiger was reported hunting a resident’s goat and approaching the terrace of a house in Tanjung Pulai.
Following the report, authorities immediately began mitigation efforts to prevent conflict between humans and wildlife by installing a box trap in the area.
However, until March 3, 2026, the tiger had not yet entered the trap.
Another incident occurred on Monday, March 9, 2026, around 8:00 p.m., when a Sumatran tiger killed a goat belonging to a resident inside a livestock enclosure.
The location was close to a three-way junction leading to Pulau Muda Village, an area where sightings of the animal had been frequently reported in recent months.
The tiger eventually entered the trap cage the following day on March 10.
Authorities then evacuated the animal by transferring it from the trap cage to a transport cage using sedation administered by veterinarians from the Riau conservation agency.
Initial screening showed the animal was a female Sumatran tiger cub estimated to be less than one year old.
“The tiger is generally in good health, with no visible injuries and normal behavior,” Ujang said.
However, he added that the cub appeared physically underweight.
The tiger has been transferred to the wildlife rescue center operated by the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation.
After further monitoring and rehabilitation, the conservation agency will consider releasing the animal back into the wild.
Officials said relocation or release will depend on the cub’s condition and the suitability of its natural habitat.
Authorities continue urging residents in tiger habitats to report sightings promptly and avoid activities that could trigger encounters with the critically endangered species.
Indonesia is home to the remaining population of Sumatran tigers, which face increasing threats from habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.
Conservation groups estimate that fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild.
Related news: Six camera traps deployed after tiger sighting in West Sumatra
Translator: Bayu AA, Rahmad Nasution