Man Dies After Being Attacked by a Tiger While Collecting Wood in Forest

TheIndonesia.co - A 50-year-old man from Meranti Islands, Riau Province, died after reportedly being attacked by a Sumatran tiger while he was collecting wood in a forest.

As reported by Antara, the tragedy happened in an area within the Teluk Lanus village in Sungai Apit district. According to district head Tengku Mukhtasar, the victim’s body was found intact, but a tiger bite was found on the neck.

“It happened on Monday at around 6.00 a.m., but I received the information in the afternoon from a local village head. Then, I reported the incident to the police and the Riau Center for Natural Resources Conservation [BBKSDA] in the evening,” Mukhtasar said on Tuesday, December 20.

The victim, Acai, was reportedly collecting wood in Sungai Belat forest with his friend when the tiger attacked. Later on, he was found not too far from where he had been attacked, but the animal immediately had already left the location.

“From what I understand, the victim has been taken to his hometown last night. We’ve also reported the tragedy to authorities,” Mukhtasar explained.

The district official lastly warned members of the public who live nearby the location to remain careful of the many wild animals roaming the area. He also reminded people not to carry out their activities alone, especially inside the forest and/or far from residential areas.

“This is the umpteenth time this has happened, and I have also reported it to authorities so that they can send a team to evacuate these wild animals," he said.