On Saturday, 23rd March 2024, a Sumatran tiger was captured on CCTV footage falling into a dam located in West Pasaman, West Sumatra. The incident occurred at the PT Optima Tirta Energy (OTE) Micro Hydro Power Plant. Prompt action by the Nature Conservation Agency (BKSDA) led to the successful evacuation of the tiger before it could venture into residential areas.
A 35-second video of the incident quickly circulated on social media platforms, showing the tiger’s attempts to escape from the dam. The footage captured the wild animal manoeuvring along the dam’s edge to climb to safety.
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The evacuation process proved challenging as the BKSDA utilized a net to apprehend the Sumatran Tiger, which had taken refuge in a water tunnel. After several hours of effort, the BKSDA successfully extracted the tiger from the tunnel and safely returned it to its natural habitat in the forest.
According to Dian Indriati, the Head of BKSDA West Sumatra, field identification revealed traces of the tiger’s presence, such as its footprints, along the road leading to the Togar forest area. These findings, located approximately 1.5 km from the initial sighting point, confirmed that the tiger had returned to its habitat.
In addition to the tiger’s footprints, the BKSDA team discovered scratch marks on the walls of the dam. Emphasizing the importance of caution, the team advised residents to exercise care when engaging in outdoor activities and to minimize the duration of farming.
“We have conducted educational sessions for residents through village officials in the area. In light of the tiger’s behaviour, we urge residents to maintain vigilance while working in the fields. Furthermore, nighttime activities should be avoided, and the duration of time spent in the fields should be limited,” remarked Dian.
