Indonesian Conservation Media Center

Painan, June. Sumatran tiger is on the verge of extinction. Now the number of this wild animals that live in the area of Kerinci Seblat Forest National Park (TNKS) is only about 130 to 140. these protected animals will be gone (extinct) if their habitat continues to be disturbed by human like illegal logging and the killing of the animal itself.

"The extinction of this species, it is not free from the narrowness of its movement in search of food. One of the cause, none other than the man who did the forest encroachment in the area. So, their place to live becomes increasingly narrow," said an Australian citizen environmentalists, Mr. Camerhoon Pessel when visiting the police station yesterday.

The aim of Australian citizens came to this area was none other than to ask directly and want to know definitely the cause of death of a Sumatran Tiger to the authorities in Kenagarian IV Koto Mudik, Batang Kapas District. From the police Office which handles cases of killings of wild animals, the Australian citizen knew the cause of death of Sumatran tigers in Batang Kapas was due to poisoning residents.

Theft of tigers is one contributor to the extinction of these protected animals in TNKS. Furthermore, animal with a maximum of 20 years of age in the nature is also difficult to breed. This condition is caused by the level of survival for offspring wich only five to two. It means, from five-time give birth, only one or two only can survive to adulthood. Likewise with how he live in the forest, because home range for a single adult male in search of food reaches 50 to 100 kilometers."When compared to the 1.4 million hectare area TNKS, was much in the possible amount of not more than 200 tails at the moment," he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Tipiter Unit of Pessel Police, Aiptu Niswal said, the perpetrator of the Sumatran tigers murder in Batang Kapas could be punishable by five years in prison for deliberate poisoning (killing) of protected wildlife. Now the case is still in the handling of the local police station for further processing. Some people have been called as witnesses including expert witnesses.

Regarding the environment, whoever intentionally committed acts or cause pollution and environmental destruction, is against the law, the perpetrator threatened with a criminal 10 years and a fine of five hundred million rupiah. This is in accordance with the penal provisions of subsection 41 of Law Number 23 year 1997, concerning on Environmental Management. (04)

http://www.pesisirselatan.go.id/index.php?mod=konten&id=446, Thursday, 17 June 2010 | 08:48:00 WIB