PRESS RELEASE.
Dharmasraya, 14 June 2020 – In less than a month, the Dharmasraya Sumatran Tiger Rehabilitation Center (PR-HSD) managed by ARSARI Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD) received yet another Sumatran Tiger (Pantera tigris sumatrae) on Sunday, June 14th, 2020. Previously on May 4th, PR-HSD has accepted a Sumatran Tiger named Ria, also evacuated from Riau and is currently undergoing rehabilitation. The new female Sumatran tiger, named Putri, was evacuated from Nagari Gantung Ciri, Kubung District, Solok Regency, by the Natural Resources Conservation Center (KSDA) West Sumatra. Her full name is Putri Singgulung, referring to her original territory in Bukit Singgulung.
The evacuation process took 12 hours with over 8 hours of translocation since Putri entered the box trap on Saturday, June 13rd around 12.00 WIB. “We have received reports of the appearance of a tiger mother with two tiger cubs who have been worrying locals since May 7th, and there had been efforts ranging from chasing away the tigers back to the forest to installing cage traps,” spoke Erly Sukrismanto, Head of KSDA West Sumatra Office. “Putri is one of the cubs who entered the trap, she was only 1 year old,” he added.
Putri arrived at PR-HSD, located in the area of PT. Tidar Kerinci Agung (TKA) on Sunday, June 14th at 08.00 WIB. The handover was carried out directly by Novtiwarman SP, Head of Conservation Section III, KSDA West Sumatra Office, to Drh. Saruedi Simamora, PR-HSD Operational Manager. “Putri’s arrival coincidences with two other Sumatran tigers, Ria and Corina, who are currently undergoing rehabilitation at PR-HSD. ARSARI Foundation through PR-HSD is always available to rehabilitate Sumatran tigers, and Putri is the 10th tiger to receive our treatment,” said Catrini Kubontubuh, Executive Director of YAD.
Upon arrival at PR-HSD, the medical team decided to let Putri rest for 2 days before commencing a thorough medical check-up. This is due to Putri recently underwent an exhausting journey and that her physical condition, while unstable, does not require emergency medical treatment. “We have prepared an isolation cage for Putri which will be monitored intensively for the next 2 x 24 hours,” claimed Drh. Saruedi Simamora, Operational Manager of PR-HSD. “We hope that Putri can be released back to the wild, in a safe way for both animals and humans,” concluded the veterinarian, familiarly known as Doctor Mora. PR-HSD Medical Team, both veterinarians and rehabilitation team, noted that Putri’s physical condition upon arrival as having no serious injuries except for a few blisters on her nose.
On a separate occasion, Hashim Djojohadikusumo as Chairman of YAD conveyed the message “ARSARI Foundation highly appreciates the outstanding work of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and all stakeholders who, even in the midst of corona virus pandemic, continue the effort to save Sumatran tigers and ensure the safety of people from human and tiger conflicts brewing in many places in Sumatra.”
Further information:
Catrini Kubontubuh, Executive Director of YAD (0813 8130 3696)
drh. Saruedi Simamora, Operational Manager of PR-HSD (0852 6118 1887)
Tito Suryawan, Media and Communication YAD (085794850305)