Jerry Adiguna, The Jakarta Post, West Lampung | Sat, 10/02/2010 9:59 AM
As Mekar (a 3-year-old Sumatran tiger) roars inside her transport cage, all the men that were supposed to carry the cage from the plane cargo hold stopped for a moment and felt that jittery tickly feeling in their tummies.
No more preying: Ucok (right) and Salma netted in Aceh after reportedly preying on humans, rest on their cages at the TWNC. |
Although used to hearing wild Sumatrans tigers roar in the jungle, standing less than 3 inches from a real live one, separated by less than 1 centimeters of steel plate with hole in it and staring a wild tiger eye to eye while she is roaring at you the whole time, will make most people’s tummies tickle at least a little.
Still feeling dozey from her air sickness after being flew from Bengkulu, Sumatra, Mekar stood reasonably alert inside the 2X1 meter transport cage.
The doctor that accompanied her from BKSD Jambi, Sumatera sprayed fresh water from a spray jar, trying to relax her.
A few moment later the men moved the cage quickly outside from the back of the plane and onto a carrier pulled by a tractor to transport her to the Sumatran Tiger Rescue Center operated by Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation (TWNC), about 3 kilometers from the grass airfield.
There she will begin the rehabilitation process before being released back to the wilderness of Tampang Belitung jungle, part of the South Bukit Barisan National Conservation Park, Lampung, Sumatera.
Mekar was caught near a small transmigration program village called Mekar village, Bengkulu, Sumatra early in the 2nd quarter of 2010. She was a victim of illegal poaching. She watched as her mother and siblings were killed by human beings. With the strong memory capabilities that Sumatran tigers, this awful incident could leave a deep scar affecting her perceptions toward people.
Luckily Mekar grew up around the small village and eat left over food given to her by the local people while she strayed around the village.
Hungry eyes: A trainer gives a piece of meat to Mekar, a 3-year-old Sumatran tiger, in her cage at the rescue center operated by |
Her interactions with the village at least, hopefully, helped deal with her trauma and possible fear of humans. She even developed a close relation with some of the village people. Its even reported she got used to licking the hand of one of the local people.
After being caught by Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (BKSDA), Mekar went through medical treatment and observation for more than three months in Bengkulu, Sumatra. After discussion among local high officials and observation, it was finally decided to send Mekar to the Sumatran Tiger Rescue Center operate by TWNC in the south of Lampung and to prepare her to begin the rehabilitation program before being released back into the wilderness. There she will be joining two other Sumatran tigers called Salma and Ucok who are also being rehabilitated.
The name “Tambling” is an abbreviation of Tampang-Belimbing, which is named after Teluk Tampang in the eastern side and Tanjung Belimbing on the western side of the park. Since 1992, PT Adhiniaga Kreasinusa was granted a permit to run Tambling as a tourist destination that covers an area of 100 hectares in July 2008, the company also obtained a permit from Southern Bukit Barisan National Park to supervise an area of 45.000 hectares. The working site of PT Adhiniaga Kreasinusa in Tambling is called the Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation (TWNC).
Home sweet home? Several tigers have been released back after being treated at the Sumatran Tiger Rescue Center operated by TWNC |
The natural ecosystem of Tambling provide a good habitat for Muntiacus muntjacs, a kind of small deer, wild buffaloes and wild boars and various small mammals including porcupines. Also some rare serati Cairina scutulata ducks often visit Sei Leman Lake and Menjukut in TNWC.
The Sumatran Tiger Rescue Centre of TWNC cover more than 10 hectare of land, located deep in the jungle of TWNC protected area at a height of up to 300 meters. The location is selected for the natural vegetation that matches with the natural habitat of the tiger.
It became a school for the tigers before they are released into wilderness of the Tampang Belimbing jungle. They train the tigers to become familiar with their natural surroundings, with their natural instinct to hunt live prey, so when they are released to the wilderness they are prepared and well adapted.
— Photos by JP/J. Adiguna
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