The Jakarta Post 1 Nov 09;
Local residents in the Bengkulu regencies of Seluma and Kaur have spotted footprints of at least three Sumatran tigers around their villages.
Begkulu nature conservation center official Jaja Mulyana told Antara on Sunday a tiger was believed to wander around Tanjung Aur and Air Bacang villages near a production forest in Kaur regency, which borders the South Bukit Barisan National Park.
Footprints of an adult tiger, believed to be female, and a cub were found in Puguk and Lubuk Resam villages near Semidang Bukit Kabu conservation area in Seluma regency.
A village chief, Sirajudin, said local residents had often spotted a tiger near their farmland recently.
Jaja said the provincial nature conservation agency would not capture the tigers despite the residents’ fear, saying the carnivores had been hunting for their preys there before their habitat was converted into resettlement areas.
Jaja called on the residents to keep their cattle from the forest.
