Dharmasraya, 8 June 2022 – A grave news just shook the world of Sumatran tiger conservation. On Wednesday, 8 June 2022, Puti Maua Agam, a Sumatran tiger evacuated from tiger-human conflict from Jorong Kayu Pasak Timur Nagari Salareh Aie, Palembayan District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra Province on 10-11 January 2022, passed away at around 05.00 WIB in the morning due to illness during her rehabilitation process at the Dharmasraya Sumatran Tiger Rehabilitation Center (PR-HSD) ARSARI.
This 3-year-old female tiger came down from Maninjau Nature Reserve forest and entered human settlement likely due to food shortage stemming from African Swine Fever (ASF) plague which decimated the population of wild boars in Agam. Upon arrival at PR-HSD ARSARI on January 12, Puti was immediately given a thorough medical examination and rehabilitation after being detected with helminthiasis, nutritional deficiency, and lymphocytosis.
The chronology of Puti’s death, according to drh. Patrick Flaggellata, Operations Manager of PR-HSD ARSARI, is as follows. “Puti’s condition began to decline when she fell ill on 18 May 2022, with notable loss of appetite and several myiasis wounds. Her conditions improved on 27 May, but starting from 6 June she fell ill once again, this time with hypersalivation, and she left us on 8 June 2022.”
Before her death, PR-HSD ARSARI Medical Team observed that Puti had shortness of breath (60 times/minute). “The team gave her atropine sulfate and salbutamol nebula, and fed her using a wooden stick filled with meat but she refused to eat it,” recalled Patrick, who deeply mourned Puti’s death.
Following her death, the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) decided to perform a necropsy on the same day. The purpose of the necropsy was to obtain detailed information on the cause of death through laboratory testing of samples from her organs.
“We are very grateful to PR-HSD ARSARI’s effort in rescuing, rehabilitating, and caring for Puti until her last moments,” spoke Ardi Andono, Head of the West Sumatra BKSDA, who led Puti’s evacuation effort and is actually planning Puti’s future release alongside PR-HSD while waiting for her recovery.
Separately, Catrini Kubontubuh as Executive Director of ARSARI Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD) who manages PR-HSD also expressed her thoughts. “Puti’s death is a big loss for all of us. Especially considering that the Sumatran tiger is an endangered animal based on the regulations of the Minister of Environment and Forestry, and one of the main reasons is the decrease of preys in natural habitats,” she remarked.
The chairman of YAD, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, also expressed his condolences. “Although this is a big loss for everyone involved in Sumatran tiger conservation efforts, I hope this does not dampen our spirit, but instead fuels our efforts to work harder in conserving wildlife in Indonesia, especially Sumatran tigers,” he concluded.
Further information:
drh. Patrick Flagellata (Operational Manager, PR-HSD ARSARI): 082158971307
Tito Suryawan (Media and Communication, YAD): 085794850305