Mother, cub identified in West Sumatra's tiger sighting

Lubuk Basung, W Sumatra (ANTARA) - Two Sumatran tigers spotted near a village in Agam district were a mother and cub, based on field investigations launched after residents reported the encounter, according to West Sumatra conservation authorities.

The finding followed a joint assessment by the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), local community patrol teams and village authorities, conservation official Ade Putra said on Tuesday.

Investigators found two sets of footprints measuring about 10 centimeters and six centimeters, indicating the presence of an adult tiger and its offspring, Ade said.

The tracks were discovered on a resident's plantation. Officials concluded the animals were a mother and cub because of the clear difference in footprint sizes.

Authorities believe the tigers entered the area while hunting wild boar. Officers found a wild boar carcass near the tracks that appeared to have been dead for about two days.

The carcass and footprints provided key evidence linking the tiger presence to hunting activity in the area, officials said after inspecting the site.

Authorities urged residents not to work alone on plantations, to visit fields only between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time, and to secure livestock.

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Earlier, BKSDA received reports from village authorities and Palupuh police that a 52-year-old resident, Mizwar, had encountered two Sumatran tigers on Monday morning, June 15.

Following the report, BKSDA dispatched personnel and community patrol teams to interview witnesses and search for footprints, claw marks and animal droppings.

The agency has since conducted day and night patrols around the sighting area and nearby settlements. Officials said relocating the animals remains an option if necessary.

ANTARA noted that the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is Indonesia's only surviving tiger subspecies. The Bali tiger became extinct in 1937, while the Javan tiger disappeared in the 1970s.

The Sumatran tiger is the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and is found only on Sumatra, Indonesia's second-largest island.

Its population faces mounting pressure from deforestation, poaching and increasing conflict with humans as natural habitats continue to shrink.

Estimates place the wild Sumatran tiger population at between fewer than 300 and about 500 individuals across 27 locations.

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Translator: Altas M, Rahmad Nasution

Editor: Anton Santoso

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