Young Sumatran Tiger Trapped After Attacking Villager's Goat in Riau

A young Sumatran tiger was trapped in a snare set by residents in Teluk Meranti District, Pelalawan Regency, Riau. The tiger was captured after it killed a goat belonging to a village resident.

According to Teluk Meranti District Police Chief Ipda Boby Evan, the incident occurred on Tuesday evening, 10 March, on Bono Bypass Road, Pulau Muda Village, Teluk Meranti District, Pelalawan. The incident began when a goat belonging to Hamzah was killed by the tiger on the night of 9 March.

“The following day, Hamzah along with witnesses, including the head of Dusun I, set a trap at the location of the incident using the remains of the dead goat as bait,” Boby explained on Wednesday, 11 March.

That evening, around 21:30 Western Indonesia Time, the trap was triggered. The young tiger had entered the snare.

Ipda Boby commended the residents who reported the incident and chose not to kill the tiger.

“We greatly appreciate the awareness of the residents of Pulau Muda Village who reported this incident and assisted in the capture of the young tiger,” he stated.

The young tiger was subsequently handed over to a team from the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Centre (Balai Besar Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam/BBKSDA) for medical treatment and behavioural assessment before release back into the wild. The head of Pulau Muda Village, Andika, was also present during the handover process.

Boby added that this case demonstrates that community awareness and cooperation between police and residents can assist in the preservation of protected wildlife.

“We will continue to support wildlife conservation efforts in the Teluk Meranti region,” he concluded.