"Overall, the Sumatran tiger population in the TNKS area remains relatively stable; they are spread in Jambi, South Sumatra, Bengkulu, and West Sumatra. The estimated number is between 150 to 180," Head of Management Division for Bengkulu-South Sumatra Region III of TNKS M Mahfud said when contacted on Sunday.
He explained that the number is obtained from counting by utilizing camera traps, as well as based on the identifications of traces, feces, and scratches.
"So far, camera traps have proven to be the most accurate method. They allow us to identify the sex and assign names to individual tigers immediately," he said.
He noted that the national park covers an area of 1,389,509.87 hectares, and 591,188 hectares of them are in Bengkulu and South Sumatra areas.
In Bengkulu Province, according to him, Sumatran tigers are still often seen but the details cannot be revealed to protect them from poaching.
In Bengkulu, Sumatran tigers are often seen in Lebong District, such as in Rimbo Pengadang, Ladang Palembang, Ketenong, and Bukit Resam areas, as well as in the Mukomuko District area.
According to Mahfud, there are also Sumatran tigers in the Rejang Lebong District area but they are only seen when they are crossing into Lebong District.
"They very rarely enter villages, meaning that the prey animals are still sufficient. That's why we have an ecosystem restoration so that the ecosystem in the TNKS area can continue to function," he said.
To maintain the Sumatran tiger population in the TNKS area, the park's management has teams that carry out patrols every month to remove snares that are still often found in the Mukomuko area and in the Painan area, West Sumatra.
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Translator: Nur Muhamad, Raka Adji
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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