BBKSDA Deploys Veterinarians To Evacuate Endangered Sumatran Tiger

PEKANBARU, Riau, March 6 (Antara) - Riau Natural Resources Conservation Office (BBKSDA) here on Monday said it has deployed a medical team to rescue a Sumatran tiger at the palm oil plantation in Indragiri Hilir, Riau Province. The medical team icomprised of four veterinarians, and two paramedics, an official said. "The team has been deployed for two days at the plantation, and they are still seeking for Bonita (the Sumatran tiger), which now is still roaming at this area," the Riau BBKSDA chairman, Mulyo Hutomo informed Antara in Pekanbaru, Monday. He noted that the team has been armed with stun guns to temporarily "paralyze" the Sumatran tiger. For the last two months, the Conservation officers have hunt down Bonita, a four years female Sumatran tiger, Hutomo explained. As a leader of the rescue team, Hutomo noted that the team has learned about the tiger's movement at the plantation. The chief stated that to drug the tiger is the team's last option, but it will be launched shortly. The stun gun that will drug the tiger will be effective for 15 minutes, and the tiger will be temporarily paralyzed. "In order to minimize any risks, we will drag the tiger to the open space," the chief noted. Before taking that move, the team has partnered up with the police to setting up some metal boxes for traps. Some traps, filled with male goats, and wild hogs, will be situated in six spots inside the plantation. However, the traps have yet trapped the tiger. Bonita reportedly had attacked a 33 years old farer, Jumiati to death on Jan this year. Beside Bonita, the Riau Conservation Office now is also seeking for another four years female Sumatran tiger, Boni. Similar to Bonita, Boni is reportedly found roaming insie the palm oil plantation. Hutomo said that the team now is choosing to rescue Bonita first, because she has entered the plantation more frequent than another tiger.