The tiger was finally tranquilized after over two hours of roaming about in the zoo causing visitors to be evacuated from the area.
Jambi (ANTARA News) - Jambi`s local Natural Resources Conservation Body (BKSDA) had to tranquilize an escaped Sumatran Tiger (Panthera Tigris Sumatrae) named Piter, after it wandered out of its cage in the Taman Rimba Zoo.

The tiger was finally tranquilized after over two hours of roaming about in the zoo causing visitors to be evacuated from the area, said Jambi`s BKSDA chief Tri Siswo here on Monday.

Before the tiger was shot by a tranquilizer, the conservation body first injected a dose of eight cc of tranquilizer drug into two dead chickens as bait.

"The tranquilizer worked half an hour after being injected into the tiger, then it was brought back into its cage while it was unconscious," Tri Siswo said.

The tiger was earlier reported to be on the loose around 8.45 am. It is suspected to be caused by a human error, as Piter`s handler did not shut the tiger`s cage properly.

The frenzy began at 9 am when a zoo visitor who happened to be near the cage saw the escaped tiger and shouted out, "A tiger has escaped", making the other visitors flee.

Zoo manager Taman Rimba and the local police were assisted by Jambi`s conservation body, who immediately tried to control the situation by isolating the zoo.

For over two hours, the Sumatran tiger roaming outside its cage was also a cause of concern to citizens who were worried that the animal would head towards the surrounding community housing outside the zoo.

"Yes I`m worried and anxious, if they fail to capture the tiger and it leaves the zoo it may enter the nearest residential area," said Pipit, a local resident whose house is located adjacent to the zoo.

People were seen rushing to close the doors to their houses in fear of the tiger entering the residential area.

This is the first time such an incident has occurred at Jambi`s Taman Rimba zoo and the management is going to evaluate the negligence that led to it.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012