TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has confirmed that a Sumatran tiger is roaming around Teluk Nibung village in Indragiri, Riau, alarming residents in its vicinity.
“New sets of footprints were detected not far from residents' houses,” said Riau BKSDA I Region Head Mulyo Hutomo on Friday. “Based on its trail, we believe that it is only one tiger.”
He said the Riau BKSDA together with local officials had followed-up on the reports by setting traps and continued to track down the wild tiger along a path believed to be where the tiger often traveled on.
Read: 2 Sumatran Tigers Spotted in Indragiri Plantation
Hutomo explained this case was different from the "Bonita" tiger that killed two residents in broad daylight. He maintained that this particular tiger entered residential areas only at nighttime.
According to village leader Sucipto, the Sumatran tiger first appeared on Thursday, October 25, when it preyed on three farm animals in the region. This area is home to a dark past between humans and wild tigers that is believed to be driven by the shrinking number of tiger habitats, which are replaced by residential areas and palm oil fields.
ANTARA