Antara 23 Apr 10;
Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - The Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program Foundation will establish a Sumatran tiger study center in Riau Province.
The study center was aimed at monitoring and preserving the remaining endangered Sumatran tigers as their population continued to decrease annually, Bastoni of the Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program Foundation, said, here, on Friday.
"The first study center will be set up in Sinepis, Rokan Hilir District, as a model. And later, if it runs well and shows concrete benefit, similar study centers will be established in other conservation area," he said.
The study center will be established with the cooperation of forest concession holders in Riau.
Around 20 to 25 tigers live in Sinepis conservation area. The study center is also expected to prevent any tiger attack or encroachment in human settlement areas in Rokan Hilir District.
"The study center will also monitor the movement of the Sumatran tigers in Rokan Hilir as they get wilder due to food shortage in the conservation area," he said.
Inhabitants of Pasir Limau and Sungai Daun villages recently reported that a number of
goats and chicken had disappeared following tigers` attacks in their villages.(*)
