Case of Cattle Owners vs Tigers, FJL Asks Police to Consider Human Aspects |

Sumatran tiger found dead as a result of being poisoned after preying on goats belonging to residents in the Peunaron area, East Aceh, Wednesday (23/2/2023). [Dock. East Aceh Police]

The case of a livestock owner who was arrested by the police for killing a Sumatran tiger in East Aceh has attracted public attention. This is because livestock owners are considered victims in this case.

As reported, a Sumatran tiger was found dead in the Peunaron area, East Aceh district on Wednesday (23/2). At that location, the day before four goats was killed by a tiger.

The animal protected by law died due to poison sprinkled by SY (38 years). SY admitted to the police that he sprinkled poison on the goat carcass because he was annoyed and his animals were being eaten by tigers.

Coordinator of the Eastern Region of the Aceh Environmental Journalists Forum (FJL), Zamzami Ali said, in handling this case the police needed to determine policies without overriding the applicable laws.

He suggested that the police should resolve the case using a non-legal or amicable approach.

"The consequences that will be caused in resolving this case are of course very large because it will definitely receive a positive response from the public," said Zamzami Ali in his statement, Wednesday (1/3).

If the suspect is released, added the Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) East Aceh Regency Organizational & Advocacy Working Group, this will automatically create a sense of justice and can increase public trust in police performance.

"Non-juridical aspects also need to be considered, even though the suspect's actions were carried out deliberately, of course, there was a reason on which the suspect committed the prohibited act," he said.

This case is also a 'warning' for the government to pay more attention to residents or farmers in forest areas who have been at the forefront of the battle for 'Animal and Human Conflict'.

Conflicts between tigers and humans have often occurred in East Aceh in recent years. The main cause, of course, is the problem of prey and shifting habitats.

The Sumatran tiger is threatened with loss of habitat because its range, such as lowland forest and montane rainforest, has so far been converted into agricultural land, plantations, and mining.

The presence of poachers who target tiger skins to be sold to collectors on the black market also makes the existence of 'The Big Cat' even more threatened.

“Like the case of selling tiger skins which ensnared the former Bener Meriah Regent, Ahmadi, who is currently undergoing trial. Then the tiger skin that was displayed on a table belonging to one of the state officials went viral some time ago. These two case examples are important points that should not be forgotten as the initial causes of the conflict," he explained.

Apart from that, the conflict between tigers and humans is also exacerbated because the residents' livestock is released freely or without pens, which automatically lures tigers to come down to residential areas.

“Tigers move based on their prey animals. The name is also looking for food, if there are cattle released it will certainly be something tempting for the tiger. Moreover, for food sources such as wild boar and deer, their population is also decreasing in nature because they continue to be hunted, " concluded Zamzami []