Tiger sighting forces temporary school closure in Sumatra

The Jakarta Post 12 Dec 09;

The management of a Muslim boarding school in Tanjung Aur village in Bengkulu will relocate all 30 of its students to other villages due to the frequent sightings of a tiger in the school surroundings.

School principal Sudarmin said Saturday a Sumatran tiger was recently spotted around the school’s yard.

He added the students would continue their studies in Islamic boarding schools in neighboring Padang Kempas village in Kaur Selatan district and in Padang Guci Hulu district.

“We do not want to put our students in danger," Sudarmin told Antara news agency.

"So far, tigers have attacked goats, dogs and chickens but we are afraid they may attack our students," Sudarmin said.

Tanjung Aur village head Tusiran said since the appearance of a tiger in the village, the local residents had been living in constant fear of a tiger attack.

Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) spokesman Andi Basrah said the village encroaches on the tiger's natural habitat and therefore it would not be feasible to drive away the protected animal.