PRESS RELEASE
Dharmasraya, 14 July 2020 – The community plays an important role in creating harmony between humans and wildlife. Halfway into 2020, conflicts between human and Sumatran Tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae), are increasingly quite common compared to previous years. On 13 July 2020, West Sumatra KSDA rescued yet another Sumatran Tiger in Jorong Surantih, Nagari Lubuk Alung, Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra. The Sumatran tiger allegedly has preyed on a number of cattles in the village.
The female Sumatran tiger, named Ciuniang Nurantih, entered the box trap set up overnight by West Sumatra KSDA, and was immediately evacuated the following morning. ‘Ciuniang’ means little girl, while ‘Nurantih’ is a combination from the word ‘Nur given by local residents, and ‘Surantih’ which is the name of the region where the evacuation took place. Ciuniang arrived at West Sumatra KSDA in Padang at around 14.00 WIB, and was translocated to PR-HSD ARSARI at 21.30 WIB. “After considering various other options including zoos at Bukittinggi and Sawahlunto, there is no better place we can trust with this endangered animal. Thus, we asked ARSARI Djojohadikusumo Foundation to receive and rehabilitate Ciuniang in their facility, the PR-HSD ARSARI,” said Erly Sukrismanto, the Head of West Sumatra KSDA. “We are concerned for the possibility of high stress levels on animals if they are not immediately removed from the box trap, and this requires high level of expertise we can trust in PR-HSD ARSARI Medical Team,” he concluded.
Ciuniang arrived at PR-HSD ARSARI on Tuesday, 14 July 2020, at 09.00 WIB. The handover was facilitated between Eka Damayanti, the Section Head of Conservation on Region 2 acting as representative from West Sumatra KSDA, and Drh. Saruedi Simamora, Operational Manager of PR-HSD ARSARI. “We have to answer this challenge to rehabilitate and prepare Ciuniang and the four other Sumatran tigers in the PR-HSD for a speedy recovery and eventual release in accordance to ARSARI Foundation’s mission.” He further added that “Ciuniang’s overall physical condition is good, except for minor lacerations on her face. We hope that we can release her soon.”
This was confirmed by Catrini Kubontubuh, Executive Director of the ARSARI Foundation Djojohadikusumo in a separate interview. “We have proposed to the Head of West Sumatra KSDA to schedule a release plan by the end of July,” she added, “The ARSARI Foundation is currently preparing for the procurement of GPS collar for them to wear, so that we can still monitor their movements after release. We are waiting for the decision from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for their approval of the wildlife release.”
On a separate occasion, Hashim Djojohadikusumo as Chairperson of the ARSARI Djojohadikusumo Foundation, again made the call, “Let us all play an active role in conserving forests and prevent their destruction in order to preserve a living space for wildlife”. He further emphasized, “If tigers and other wild animals ventured out of forests already damaged, it is not their fault but rather the result of human greed who should be able to share this Earth with all of His creations.”
Further Information:
Catrini Kubontubuh, YAD Executive Director (0813 8130 3696)
drh. Saruedi Simamora, PR-HSD ARSARI Operational Manager (0852 6118 1887) Tito Suryawan, YAD Media and Communication (085794850305)