PDIP Politician Demands Killing Tiger that Attacked Villager

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sugeng Hari, member of the West Lampung Regency DPRD from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), called on the police and TNI (Indonesian Army) to kill the tiger that attacked a villager. Claiming to speak on behalf of the people of Suoh, he urged the authorities to take decisive action against the tiger.

Samanan, 41, a resident of Sukamarga village in Suoh district, West Lampung regency, was attacked by a Sumatran tiger while working in his garden. The man fought back and managed to escape from the wild animal. He was taken to the local community health center and then transferred to the Liwa Regional General Hospital.

This is the third similar incident in West Lampung in the last month. Previously, two people were found dead, allegedly mauled by a tiger.

"After another attack today, we, the people of Suoh, demand that the authorities take immediate and decisive action against the tiger," said Sugeng.

On February 8, Gunarso (47) of Sumber Agung village, Suoh regency, was found dead, allegedly from a tiger attack. Two weeks later, on February 22, S (28), a resident of Pengunjungan regency, was found dead about 300 meters from his garden with some of his organs missing, allegedly mauled by a tiger.

A Dying Breed

According to the official website of the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is one of six surviving subspecies of tiger. The species is critically endangered.

It is estimated that only about 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the population. Their natural habitats are blocks of lowland forest, peatland and mountain rainforest. However, most of these areas have been cleared for agricultural land or plantations, reducing the tigers' home range.

Angry villagers set fire to forestry office

Residents of Suoh District, South Lampung, vandalized and set fire to the office of the Suoh Forestry Resort, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, after a resident was attacked by a tiger. Residents initially came to seek an explanation from the authorities about the tiger attack, but became angry and resorted to anarchy when they received no response.

West Lampung Resort Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ryky Widya Muharom, said he regretted the vandalism and arson. "We are also concerned about what happened to the victim. But we also regret the incident of vandalism carried out by local residents," he said on Monday, adding that the local police and military command had formed a task force and a team to hunt wild animals.

The police chief urged the public not to cause any more anarchy and said his party would try as hard as possible to manage the conflict between tigers and humans.

ANTARA

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