Tamer helping to reduce tiger attacks in Aceh, Indonesia

Antara 24 Oct 10;

Banda Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (ANTARA News) - Attacks by tigers on humans have been less frequent in Southern Aceh after the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) sought the help of a tiger tamer to discourage them from preying on humans in the region, an official said.

"Attacks by tigers (on humans) have started to decline since last week after we asked for help from a tamer named Syarwani Sabi to overcome the disturbances," said B. Safwan, head of South Aceh`s BKSDA, on Saturday.

The 72-year Sabi had made two traps at Jampoen Papeun village at Meukek and Panton luas sub-districts at Tapaktuan district, in efforts to catch the tigers alive.

Some tigers were previously reported to have made life difficult for the villagers.

The installation of the traps, made of thick wooden boards, was witnessed by local community figures and activists from Leuser International Foundation (YLI) and Wildlife Conservation Sosiety (WCS).

"If the feared tigers could be caught, the villagers will bring them alive to BKSDA. We hope the villagers will not do any harm to the protected animals," Sabi said.

He said the tigers had attacked humans becuse their food sources had been diminished due to forest destruction.

Safwan said that a villager, Martunis (25), was found dead after apparently being attacked by a tiger on October 12 at Panton Luas village. Tigers also swarmed around human settlements and preyed on the villagers` livestock at Jamboe Papeun.

YLI data shows that seven people were killed and two others seriously injured in tiger attacks between 2007 and 2010. In the same period, as many as 18 tigers were killed or caught.

Various sources, both international and local, have said that there are only about 400 Sumatra tigers left in the forests of Sumatera, from Aceh to Lampung, making the tiger one of the most endangered animals in the world. The largest population of about 110 tigers is believed to be living in Gunung Leuser National Park, Aceh province.(*)