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Releasing of Two Sumatran Tigers
Way Kambas - As the cage doors opened on Friday (22/1) at 2.30 pm, Panti stood hesitantly with watchful sharp eyes, observing his surroundings. A moment later, he walked out cautiously, carrying his bodyweight of 85 kilograms. He sniffed the cage doors of his fellow tiger, Buyung, before sprinting into the jungle.
Panti and Buyung are Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) that were officially relased by Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan in Tambling Wildlife National Conservation (TWNC) in Panimbangan, Way Kambas, Lampung Barat district. TWNC is part of Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS).
The release of Panti and Buyung adds the collection of Sumatran tigers in TNWC to four tigers. In July 2008, two Sumatran tigers, Agam and Pangeran, were also released in TNWC.
Director of Taman Safari Indonesia in Cisarua, Tony Sumampau, on Saturday (23/1) morning said both tigers are separated by 500 meters. “Both are released with GPS collars on their neck. The device allows us to monitor their movement,” said Tony.
Tony said tigers are more adaptive in its natural habitat, but it must be sterile from humans. If the two ever meets then the results could be grim.
Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said the releasing of Sumatran tigers into its natural habitat is a global achievement. Not many countries still have tigers. Indonesia is one of 13 countries that sill have tigers even though the numbers continue to decline.
The tiger release will be an important issue in tiger conservation, which will be discussed by tiger-owning countries at the end of February 2010 in Thailand.
“This event will be a milestone for the Indonesian government in saving conservation forests in Indonesia. Now there is only 15% of conservation forest left, or only 25 million hectares,” said Zulkifli.
According to Head of Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Kurnia Rauf, since July 2004 the park has been declared as The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatera by UNESCO.
Kurnia said that the national park is yet to be sterile from humans. There are still 170 families living within the park area and is prone to conflicts with large mammals. (WHO).
Source : Kompas