Jakarta – A Sumatran tiger found dead on Monday on a plantation in South Aceh regency, Aceh, is believed to have ingested toxic substances.
A team of vets from the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), the Leuser Conservation Forum and Syiah Kuala University's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH Unsyiah) did a necropsy on the tiger and has concluded that it had died from poisoning.
"It is strongly suspected that the tiger died of toxicosis or poisoning," Aceh BKSDA head Agus Ariyanto said on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com.
The necropsy team found nasal bleeding, hair loss and bruises on the female tiger, which is estimated to have been two or three years old when it was found dead in Kapa Seusak village, East Trumon district.
"Parts of the tongue turned purplish, presumably due to insecticide poisoning. Meanwhile, the incised wound found on the stomach was probably caused by barbed wire," he said.
The toxic substance is suspected to have stuck to the skin of a goat eaten by the tiger. "Before the tiger's carcass was found, we found six goat carcasses in incomplete state nearby," said Agus.
For a final conclusion on the cause of death, a tissue sample of the tiger will be examined at the laboratory of the Bogor Primate Study Center and at the FKH Unsyiah laboratory.
Meanwhile, a sample of the will be tested at the National Police's forensics center. (aly)