Police Foil Growing Attempts To Trap Sumatra Tigers

Jambi, July 12 (ANTARA)- Forest rangers have found and foiled growing attempts to trap Sumatra tigers in the Kerinci Seblat National Park in Sumatra. The authorities suspected the perpetrators planned to sell certain organs of the wildlife in black market in the country and abroad, Dian Risdianto, chief of the forest police team of the National Park, said here on Friday. So far this year, notably ahead of Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, the special forest police have foiled 30 attempts to trap the Sumatra tigers as against only a few in previous years. "This indicates demand has increased for the animal organs from black market in the country or from abroad," Dian Risdianto said. Dian said the type of traps used are specially for tigers corroborating suspicion that the perpetrators have received special orders for tiger organs. The type of traps is stronger and much more expensive than the types used by ordinary hunters of other wildlife like boars, deers, monkeys or birds, he said. "Those kinds of traps we have found this year are all for tigers," he said. The 30 traps were found by the team of forest police in three different locations in the Kerinci Seblat National Park including 13 units in Kerinci, 3 units in Muko-muko Bengkulu, 16 units in Pesisir Selatan of West Sumatra. Dian called on the managers of National Parks in Sumatra to carry out regular patrol against illegal trapping or trade of wildlife. "We have recommended to all managers of National Parks and forestry offices in Sumatra to launch regular patrol to preserve the country`s wildlife especially Sumatra tigers," he said. He warned that the population of the famous Sumatra tiger has continued to decline . The government needs to seriously address the problem or the Sumatra tiger would soon be extinct, he said. He said cases of illegal trapping of Sumatra tigers has tended to increase ahead and during Ramadan every year indicating trading of tiger organs is more rampant during that period. "We also call on the central government especially the forestry ministry to act more firmly by immediately imposing regulation based on the law on conversion of the environment and ecosystem to protect wildlife," he said.