BENGKULU TEAMS UP WITH WCS TO PRESERVE ENDANGERED ANIMALS

Bengkulu, Nov 1 (ANTARA) - The Bengkulu Provincial Natural Resources Conservation Office (BKSDA) is to team up with the World Consultation Society (WCS) to conserve endangered animal species in the province.

The cooperation will be started by providing the local people with counseling on how to avoid conflicts with wild animals such as Sumatran tigers so that both would not disturb each other, the office's head, Andi Basrul, said on Sunday.

To avoid conflicts with tigers, local residents should prevent the wild animals from approaching their residential areas by building a bonfire at night, he said.

Tigers usually kept away from fire, he said.

Local residents have often spotted footprints of tigers around their villages.

Sumatran tigers are under increasing threat from habitat destruction and trafficking syndicates that sell their bones and other body parts for traditional medicines, mostly in China and other Asian countries.