East Lampung. Workers at a pineapple plantation in East Lampung have been placed on heightened alert after footprints believed to belong to a Sumatran tiger were discovered on company land earlier this week.

The plantation, operated by Great Giant Pineapple, borders Way Kambas National Park in Lampung province at the southern tip of Sumatra — a protected conservation area that is home to the big cat and other critically endangered animals.

Wildlife specialists who inspected the site confirmed that the tracks were made by an adult tiger. On Tuesday, park officers were seen surveying dirt paths within the plantation as part of an ongoing investigation.

Preliminary findings showed footprints with a large central pad and three posterior lobes — a typical characteristic of tiger tracks — measuring about 14 centimeters wide and 16 centimeters long. The size was significantly larger than that of other wild cats such as panthers or leopards.

The location of the discovery was roughly 350 meters from the boundary of Way Kambas National Park.

Ratu Mikhi Kharisma, an employee of Great Giant Pineapple, said plantation operations are continuing but under stricter safety protocols.

“The company has instructed workers to move in groups and allows them to stop activities before dusk to prevent unwanted incidents,” Ratu said. “We are urging employees and nearby residents to stay vigilant, especially during evening hours.”

Meanwhile, Way Kambas National Park management has stepped up patrols at vulnerable points, installed warning banners, and deployed camera traps to monitor any wild tiger movement into plantation areas.

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