Hungry tigers attack Riau villages

Antara 23 Apr 10;

Rokan Hilir, Riau Province (ANTARA News) - A Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), attacked Pasir Liamu Kapas and Sungai Daun villages, Rokan Hilir District, Thursday.

Inhabitants of Pasir Limau village had reported that a goat was gone following the tiger`s attack, Bastoni of the Sumatran Tiger Preservation Foundation, said here Friday.

A similar complaint was also received from residents of Sungai Daun village, he said.
The tigers were believed have been driven by hunger due to the lack of food available in their habitat.

"After investigating the matters, we suspect that the tigers came from the Sinepis conservation area. The attacks probably happened because there is a food shortage in
the conservation area," he said.

Bastoni said he had coordinated with the Raiu Nature Conservation Agency (BKSDA), to anticipate further tiger attacks in order to prevent human casualties.

"As a preventive measure, we will release wild boars in the conservation area as food for the tigers," he said.

Johni (34), a Pasir Limau inhabitant, said he and other villagers were scared as a number of their goats and chickens had disappeared.

The tiger attack was the first to have happened and frightened the local villagers, he said.(*)