PRESS RELEASE

SP. 284/HUMAS/PP/HMS.3/7/2019

Muara Bungo, Ministry of Environment and Forestry Republic of Indonesia (MoEF), Monday, July 29, 2019.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry in cooperation with the Dharmasraya Sumatran Tiger Rehabilitation Center - ARSARI Djojohadikusumo Foundation (PR-HSD Yayasan ARSARI Djojohadikusumo), along with other stakeholders have carried out a series of necessary procedures on the rescue of Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) Bonita and Atan Bintang to prepare their release back into their natural habitat.

Bonita (8 years old), a female Sumatran tiger, was rescued from the area of PT Indo Plantations in Tanjung Simpang Village, Pelangiran District, Indragiri Hilir Regency on 3 January 2018. While Atan Bintang (4 years old), a male tiger, was rescued from a local settlement at Pulau Burung, Indragiri Hilir Regency on 18 November 2018.

With the release of these pair of tigers, the number of tigers who have been successfully rehabilitated by PR-HSD and released into their natural habitat are now 4 individuals in total. The two Sumatran tigers released, one female tiger Bonita and one male tiger Atan Bintang, were transported by land to wildlife resort in Riau Province to be returned to their habitat.

The Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ir. Wiratno, M.Sc stated,