TEMPO.CO, Lumajang - Mount Semeru volunteer group, SAVER, recommended hikers to avoid taking the 'third post' route after nightfall.
"Avoid hiking alone at night through ‘third post’ route since the route is crossed by leopards," said SAVER member Sukaryo (34) at the Ranu Pane Resort in East Java on Saturday, April 7, 2018.
The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is known to be the habitat of leopards (Panthera Pardus), which are known to be climbers, especially at the mountain’s higher elevated routes.
SAVER and the national park's management had received reports of two hikers who had a direct encounter with a leopard in the vicinity of the ‘third post’ route back in 2015.
"They encountered a leopard at around 06:00 PM," said Sukaryo.
The hikers' testimony suggests that the leopard was 5-meters in length. SAVER and the national park management investigated the area following the report and discovered 10-12 centimeter trail left by the adult leopard.
The 'third post' route is a known path for hikers that leads to Ranu Kumbolo, which is located at 2,350 MASL. The route is dominated by slippery rocks added with 50-meter steep climbs which end with the 15 hectares Ranu Kumbolo Lake.
FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
