West Lampung. Wildlife authorities in Indonesia’s Lampung province have successfully trapped a Sumatran tiger that was responsible for killing two villagers and injuring two others over the past three months.

The tiger was captured using a metal cage placed in a field in the Bandar Negeri Suoh district of West Lampung regency just before dawn on Wednesday. To calm the big cat, wildlife officials covered the cage with a tarpaulin.

Transporting the cage to a makeshift sanctuary required the efforts of policemen, soldiers, and officials from the South Bukit Barisan National Park (TNBBS).

The tiger is believed to have attacked villagers and livestock. The first victim, identified as Gunarso, 47, was found dead in the district on the night of February 9. The second fatality, Sahri bin Saprak, 28, was mauled to death on February 21. Two other villagers survived attacks, though one sustained serious injuries.

Authorities formed a task force to capture the endangered tiger alive for relocation to a reservation facility in Sumatra.

“Praise be to God, the task force successfully captured the tiger, which will now be cared for by the TNBBS,” said Lieutenant Colonel Rinto Wijaya, commander of the district military command (Kodim) in West Lampung.

He noted that the task force had worked tirelessly over the past three months to track down the tiger and set up traps in various locations.

"We suspect that this tiger is responsible for the fatal attacks on humans, although further investigation is needed to confirm it. Based on its territorial range, we believe this is the man-eating tiger we have been hunting,” Rinto added.

The captured tiger will be placed at a tiger rehabilitation center in the Sukaraja district of Tanggamus regency, Lampung.

Add as a preferred source on Google +