Tiger Mauls Villager in Jambi National Park, Indonesia

Fidelis E. Satriastanti, Jakarta Globe 14 Mar 10;

Local officials will investigate a tiger attack in Jambi province in which a villager was severely injured last week, an official said on Sunday.

Ishak, 37, has been receiving intensive treatment at Raden Mattaher Hospital in Jambi city after being mauled by a Sumatran tiger on Wednesday morning. He suffered severe injuries to his legs and neck.

Ishak and three of his friends were wandering in Berbak National Park, five kilometers from their village, to collect agarwood, according to his friends.

Based on his friends’ testimony, the tiger attacked while Ishak was asleep and it tried to drag him into the forest by his leg. His friends manage to save him but his legs were badly injured.

“We’re still trying to find out exactly what went on out there because it seemed a bit out of the ordinary that tigers could have just jumped and attacked like that,” said Didy Wurdjanto, the head of the Jambi Natural Resources Conservation Center.

Didy added that normally tigers were not so aggressive toward villagers who were just out there to collect forests’ yields, even at night.

“Tigers are known to be aggressive if their habitat is being disturbed, such as if their drinking areas are being occupied or their prey is nowhere to be seen, but this aggressive attitude is a bit new [for us],” he said.

He added that the attack on Ishak was the first one recorded this year.

The 160,000 hectares of wetland forest in Berbak National Park is home to at least eight Sumatran tigers.

Only about 400 Sumatran tigers are believed to be left. Throughout Jambi, there are only 20 Sumatran tigers left. Deforestation has destroyed much of their habitat and they are hunted for traditional medicines and illegal menageries.

Despite the attack, Didy said the conversation center would not increase security in the national park.

“We’re counting on villagers’ local wisdom, because they have been living with tigers for many years. I am sure that they would know better than to disturb the animals,” he said.

He added that the national park was also being threatened by illegal loggers.

At least nine people were killed in tiger attacks in Jambi province last year, while four tigers also died.

In one of the most controversial cases, a Sumatran tiger was killed inside a zoo. Sheila, who was the only Sumatran tiger remaining at Taman Rimbo Zoo, was killed and skinned on the zoo grounds after being drugged by poachers early on Aug. 22, leaving virtually nothing behind except the innards and a few ribs.

The Sumatran tiger is critically endangered in the wild.

Man survives tiger attack in Jambi
The Jakarta Post 13 Mar 10;

A man is receiving an intensive medical treatment at Raden Mattaher Hospital in Jambi city after surviving a tiger attack on Thursday, Antara reported.

The tiger mauled Ishak, 37, late at night on Thursday as the sandalwood collector was resting inside a hut. One of his friends ran for a help and managed to release him from the carnivore.

Ishak suffered severe injuries to his neck, back and legs due to the attack.

“He survived after his friend pulled him from the tiger’s claws as the animal was trying to drag him into the forest,” Didiek Wurjanto, head of Jambi Natural Resources Conservation Agency, said.

Didiek said Ishak and his friends were collecting sandalwood at Berbak National Park.

It was the first case of tiger attack this year. The conservation agency data revealed eight people were mauled to death by tigers in Jambi last year.