Indonesia: Human, tiger conflicts kill one person and one tiger in 2011

Antara 16 Sep 11;

Bengkulu, Sumatra (ANTARA News) - A total of 10 man-versus-tiger conflicts occurred in Bengkulu province in 2011 causing the death of one person and one tiger, a local nature conservation official said.

"We have recorded 10 conflicts between humans and tigers that happened in areas between villages and forests," Amon Zamora, the head of the Bengkulu Nature Conservation Agency (BKSDA) said here recently.

The conflicts had occurred among other things in the border area between Air Ipuh forest and Malin Deman sub district, Muko Muko District, he said.

Other cases had happened in Ketahun and Seblat sub districts, North Bengkulu District. In those cases, the tigers had been driven back into the jungle.

A tiger, however, had been shot dead by unknown person in Padang Bano sub district, Lebong District, he said.

Amon said his men tried to evacuate a tiger that had attacked and injured a resident in Padang Bano.

Another conflict had happened inside Bukit Sanggul protected forest where a resident of Pino Baru village, Air Nipis sub district, South Bengkulu District, was killed.

At Talang Sebaris village, Seluma District, tigers had eaten tens of cattle and frightened local villagers.

"The tiger from Talang Sebaris was evacuated to Tambling Lampung for preservation process," he said.

At Pino Baru, Air Nipis Sub district, Bengkulu District, a local youth identified as Milyan (18) was killed by a triger near Bukit Sanggul protected forest.

According to Amon, the increased conflicts between tigers and people was mainly due to rampant human encroachment on wildlife habitat and poaching activities.

"We keep making coordination with the provincial forestry service and the district authorities to minimize conflicts in order to prevent Sumatran tigers from extinction," he said.
(Uu.F001/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH