JAKARTA: A farmer was mauled to death by a Sumatran tiger in the Mount Leuser National Park in Langkat, North Sumatra over the weekend.
The 42-year-old farmer was found dead by a search party after he failed to return home from his farm near the park on Saturday, according to The Jakarta Post.
Park spokesman Sudiro said the farmer, identified as Ramelan from Sei Lepan district, appeared to have been killed by a Sumatran tiger.
He added that the area, where Ramelan was found by the search party members from Pir ADB village in Besitang at 11pm, used to be a habitat for Sumatran tigers within the park.
Besitang district head Ibnu Hajar said the victim’s body had been handed over to the family after the body was retrieved from the scene.
He said that the tiger attack had been reported to the Langkat regent and that his resident had died in a tiger attack.
Pir ADB village chief Ilham Bhakti said Ramelan farmed in areas around Mount Leuser National Park.
He added that Ramelan had gone to his farmland with his partner on Saturday morning but failed to return home by the evening, prompting local residents to launch a search around the park area.
Ilham said when the victim was found, he had severe wounds to his head, hip and thighs.
Besitang police chief Adjutant Commander Adi Alfian said residents had earlier seen a tiger near the location where Ramelan’s body was found.
“In the afternoon before he was found dead, residents saw a tiger near the farm. We have not seen it again but we will push it back to its habitat to prevent further attacks,” he added.
Habitat loss due to deforestation and land encroachment have fuelled conflict between humans and the critically endangered big cat on Sumatra island.
The Sumatran tiger has been listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List since 2008.
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