Indonesia: Patrol stepped up to prevent Javan leopard from entering settlement

Arya Dipa The Jakarta Post 26 Jun 18;

The Tasikmalaya Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has set up a communication network connected to people living near the Gunung Sawal Wildlife Reserve in Ciamis regency, West Java, to prevent human-wildlife conflict in the area.

Didin Saripudin, head of BKSDA Tasikmalaya’s conservation division, said agency personnel had taken turns to carry out patrols in the area, following a report that a Javan leopard had entered a settlement near the wildlife reserve.

“Twelve agency personnel participated in the routine patrols,” said Didin in Bandung on Tuesday.

As reported earlier, residents of Cikupa village in Lumbung district, Ciamis, claimed they had seen a leopard enter their settlement and attack their livestock.

“The incident occurred one week before Idul Fitri. As soon as we received the report, we dispatched our team and managed to chase the animal back into the [wildlife reserve] by using fireworks,” said Didin.

Following the incident, the wildlife reserve’s rangers decided to carry out routine patrols around the village.

It is not the first time that a leopard has entered the settlement in Cikupa village. In 2009 and 2015, villagers caught two and last October, a leopard caught by the villagers was handed over to BKSDA West Java last October.

The Gunung Sawal Wildlife Reserve is the natural habitat of the Javan leopard, a predator that is endemic to Java Island. (ebf)