TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry released to the wild a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) in the core zone of the Mount Leuser National Park on Tuesday, February 20. The tiger, named Begu Kluti, is a female predicted to be 3 to 4 years old.

The process of returning Begu to her natural habitat involved a team consisting of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of Aceh, Mt. Leuser National Park Center (BBTNGL), the South Aceh Police, the Leuser Conservation Forum (FKL), and the Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program (WCS-IP).

Begu means Sumatran tiger in the regional language of Kluet, while Kluti is short for East Kluet, the location where the Sumatran tiger was evacuated from.

"We hope that Begu Kluti can adapt quickly and reproduce, so that she can increase her species' population in nature," Satyawan Pudyatmoko, director general of the Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE), said in a written statement, on Wednesday, February 21.

Meanwhile, Aceh's Natural Resources Conservation Agency chief Gunawan Alza said that following her evacuation Begu Kluti had been examined by a team of veterinarians, both macroscopically and in laboratory tests.

Based on the results of medical examinations and observations during treatment, the team of vets recommended that Begu Kluti be returned to its natural habitat in Gunung Leuser National Park.

"We express our gratitude for the support of all parties in efforts to save the Sumatran tiger and appeal to all levels of society to participate in preserving its population and habitat," Gunawan said.

Irsyan Hasyim (Contributor)

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