Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – Transported by helicopter, a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) was relocated from the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (KSDA) to the North Sumatra KSDA on Monday (March 24). The wild animal landed at Aek Godang Airport in North Padang Lawas Regency at 11:30 AM.
It was then transported by land to the Barumun Sumatran Tiger Sanctuary in Batu Nanggar Village, Batang Onang District, North Padang Lawas Regency. The Barumun Sumatran Tiger Sanctuary is a collaboration between the North Sumatra KSDA and the Bodhicitta Mandala Medan Foundation.
Upon entering the rehabilitation enclosure, the tiger appeared to be in good health. Its condition will be monitored by medical personnel, and it will undergo rehabilitation before being deemed ready for release back into its natural habitat.
The tiger, named Aprilia, is a female estimated to be three years old. It was previously rescued from the wild by the Riau KSDA following a negative interaction with local residents. Habitat destruction and loss, a decline in natural prey, and poaching pose significant threats to the survival of wild animals, including the Sumatran tiger. These conditions often drive wildlife out of their natural habitat in search of food, leading to conflicts with humans.
In a press release, the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation of the Ministry of Forestry stated that the Sumatran tiger is one of Sumatra’s key and endemic species. Since 1996, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has categorized it as critically endangered, indicating a declining population trend in its natural habitat. Additionally, through Ministerial Decree No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 on Protected Plant and Animal Species, the government has officially designated the Sumatran tiger as a protected species. Therefore, the involvement of all community members is crucial in ensuring the conservation and protection of this species to prevent its extinction.
The final stage of the relocation process involved the signing of an official handover and custody agreement between the Riau KSDA, the North Sumatra KSDA, and the Barumun Sumatran Tiger Sanctuary.
