Unusual Sumatra Tiger Incident: Human-Friendly Big Cat Makes headlines in Pasaman, West Sumatra
In an unprecedented event, a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), a critically endangered species, exhibited unusual behavior in Pasaman, West Sumatra. The big cat was spotted approaching humans and following them to the outskirts of a village in Duo Koto district.
Ade Putra, the Head of Conservation Area I of the Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (BKSDA) Sumatra Barat, confirmed the incident on Wednesday (25/12/2024). "A Sumatran tiger approached humans and followed 40 locals to the village outskirts while we were evacuating a family of three, who were in their farm that Saturday (21/12/2024)," he said, as reported by Antara news agency.
The family, consisting of Angga (31), Rosa (30), and their infant, was in their farm when they were suddenly confronted by the protected animal. They sought refuge in a nearby hut while alerting their relatives via phone.
BKSDA Sumatra Barat dispatched a team to verify the sighting on Sunday (22/12/2024), accompanied by the Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP), the local village chief, police officers, and nearby residents. They found tiger tracks but were unable to locate the animal using drones.
In light of this incident, Putra advised locals to always move in groups of two or more when going to the farm and to do so between 09:00 – 16:00 WIB, as tigers are more active during dusk and dawn.
Ismail Lubis, a local, corroborated the sighting, stating that he went to the farm after receiving news from his relative. Upon arrival around 19:00 WIB, he spotted the tiger using a torchlight. The tiger followed them during the evacuation of Lubis’ relative but eventually returned to its habitat.
Yelfi, the Village Chief of Cubadak Timur, added that this was not the first time the tiger was spotted in the area. Approximately four months ago, it killed a dog belonging to a local resident. BKSDA Sumatra Barat and COP responded by installing cameras in the area.
This rare encounter serves as a reminder of the importance of coexisting with wildlife and the need for continued conservation efforts to protect Sumatra’s remaining tigers. The Sumatran tiger is currently listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with only around 400 left in the wild.
