A Supplemental HCVF Assessment on the Sumatran Tiger ...

FINAL REPORT Tiger <strong>HCVF</strong> <strong>Supplemental</strong> <strong>Assessment</strong> – Serapung FMU
4.3 Secondary Tiger Reports from Local People
4.3.1 Direct Sightings and Human-Tiger Conflict
A total of 49 respondent interviews were obtained in the process of identifying
and verifying secondary reports relating to tiger-human interactions in and around
the FMU (summarised in Table 5). From these interviews a total of 12 cases of
human tiger conflict, and a further 14 direct sightings of tigers (not resulting in
conflict, material loss or injury to humans), were identified as having occurred
within or in the vicinity of the FMU and the geographic location and date of these
events was noted (Figure 20).
Each of these 26 cases of tiger-human interaction events was corroborated by at
least one independent witness (Table 5). Detailed descriptions and information
relating to the nature of these human-tiger events are summarised in Table 6.
Of the 12 cases of human-tiger conflict, loss of human life occurred in three
cases, serious injury in two cases, while the conflict events themselves were
linked to the death of a minimum of three tigers. Temporal-spatial consideration
of conflict events suggests that some multiple conflict events were associated
with single tiger individuals. Of note is the detailed description and chronology of
conflict events occurring along the Yos Trail during 2002 (case No. 6, 7, 8, & 9),
ultimately resulting in human casualties, material loss and death of the tiger. This
same series of conflict led to the serious mauling of an APP company employee.
One of the most recent examples of human-tiger conflict involved the death of an
APP contract worker (and the serious injury of another) while clearing an area of
the Serapung FMU (October 2004). While some first-hand witnesses believe that
this attack occurred due to inappropriate behaviour by workers (in contravention
of cultural adat law and inline with local superstitions). Other reports suggest that
this attack (by an adult female tiger) occurred subsequent to the death of a tiger
cub at the hands of workers.
Concentrations of tiger sightings were observed along the northern and southern
boundaries of Serapung I FMU, both of which are associated with the presence
of long-term and established human settlements. Reliable reports were also
obtained regarding direct sightings of tigers in a number of widely separated
locations across the Siak-Pelalawan forest block, including in the forests
immediately adjacent to the FMU. These included two separate occasions where
female adults with cubs were observed, one occasion where 2 cubs were
reported, and one case where a female tiger was caught in a snare trap.
Finally tigers have been observed by numerous witnesses as recently as late
2004 in the vicinity of the south-eastern isthmus of the FMU (at Tandjung Datuk)
both within and outside the indicative <strong>HCVF</strong> area as currently delineated. Despite
the reliability and recent nature of these secondary reports, the teams found no
direct evidence (remote camera photographs or secondary signs) confirming tiger
presence in this area (see sections 4.1 and 4.2).
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