TSI founder: Loss of wild prey drives tigers into settlements
As prey declines, tigers turn to livestock and pets, raising the risk of disease transmission from chickens or dogs.
Taman Safari Indonesia founder Tony Sumampau said saving tigers cannot be separated from protecting the food chain in their habitat. At the Wildlife Conservation Journalists Orientation organized by Forum Konservasi Satwaliar Indonesia in Cisarua, Bogor, on Saturday (22/8), he explained that wild boar, a tiger prey species, are hunted by humans, disrupting the animals' food supply. As natural prey declines, tigers enter settlements to hunt livestock or pets such as chickens and dogs, which also creates a risk of disease transmission. Tony also highlighted hunting of anoa and the sunda ekek bird or ekek geling jawa (Cissa thalassina) from Gunung Pangrango, Jawa Barat. He said the sunda ekek is nearly extinct and is hunted to be used as a master bird, even though the species is easily stressed and dies quickly.