MEDAN: A Sumatran tiger is suspected of having mauled a 12-year-old girl in Pelalawan regency, Riau, on July 7, near two conservation areas in the province.
The victim, Jerlin Zalukhu, was found dead some 10m behind a workers’ camp in a HTI (industrial forestry plantation) concession area in Sungai Ara village, Pelalawan district.
Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) head Supartono said the attack location was inside the Semenanjung Kampar landscape, a natural habitat for the Sumatran tiger. The location is not far from Zamrud National Park, about 5.3km and some 5.7km from Riau Ecosystem Restoration.
“The Riau BBKSDA immediately deployed a special team to handle the conflict between humans and wildlife,” he said on Friday (July 10).
“The team has conducted field observation, data collection and scene investigation.”
The tragic incident took place at about 4.30am. The victim was the third child of five siblings who lived with their parents in the workers’ camp. The victim was accompanying her older sister to wash dishes in the camp’s bathroom.
“When her older sister was inside the bathroom, the victim was waiting outside,” he said.
Supartono said the victim suddenly screamed and when the older sister went out of the bathroom, the victim was already gone. “
Her body was then found behind the camp with severe wounds on her neck,” he said.
“The protective fence at the back of the camp was damaged and open.” Riau BBKSDA, HTI company management and field contractor immediately set up a joint mitigation measure.
The BBKSDA team then combed around the location and found several footprints suspected of being Sumatran tiger footprints. Several workers said they saw Sumatran tiger sightings around the camp as of Tuesday afternoon at about 6pm.
“Identification results showed footprints about 16cm long and 15 cm wide, with the farthest distance between foreleg and hind leg at about 120cm,” Supartono said.
Conservation workers have installed several camera traps in strategic spots around the location to ensure the protected animal’s whereabouts and monitor its movements.
The joint team strengthens mitigation efforts by deploying night patrols and conducting aerial surveillance using a thermal drone to detect the tiger’s movements and prevent the next victim because there are still many workers around the location.
“Surveillance results showed the Sumatran tiger is still around the location,” Supartono said.
“The field team analyzed that the tiger remains in the area because there are prey animals inside the workers’ camp, attracting the tiger to approach the camp.”
Riau BBKSDA officials and company management seized the prey animals to reduce potential follow-up conflicts between human and wildlife animals, he added.
The agency called on all workers and the public who have activities around the forest area to increase their alertness.
“Do not do activities alone, especially in the night and early morning,” Supartono said.
“And immediately report if there is the presence of a Sumatran tiger or other wildlife around settlements or work locations.”
He added that the HTI company and workers must also ensure that the camp’s fence and security system around tiger habitats are always in good condition.
Supartono emphasised that Riau BBKSDA and related parties will keep handling conflicts between humans and Sumatran tigers for the safety of both humans and tigers.
“We hold the principles of prioritizing human’s safety without disregarding Sumatran tiger conservation as a protected animal, whose population is getting more threatened in the wild,” he said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
