Four tiger fetuses found; 5 arrested for poaching

Jakarta: Authorities found the skin of a protected Sumatran tiger and four fetuses in a jar, following which; five people have been arrested for poaching.

An official from the Environment and Forestry Ministry said the suspects, from Riau province, were arrested after police received a tip-off.

Two suspects are believed to have been acting as sellers. They face a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of 100 million rupiahs ($7100; £5403).

The Sunda subspecies of the tiger were once found on the Indonesian islands of Java, Bali, and Sumatra. They are now found only on Sumatra. These tigers are endangered, with fewer than 400 believed to be left in the wild.

According to the WWF: “Accelerating deforestation and rampant poaching mean this noble creature could end up extinct like its Javan and Balinese counterparts”

Despite increased efforts in tiger conservation – including strengthening law enforcement and anti-poaching capacity, a substantial market remains in Sumatra and other parts of Asia for tiger parts and products.

According to wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic, poaching for trade is responsible for almost 80% of Sumatran tiger deaths – amounting to 40 deaths a year.

Some parts of the tiger, like the bones, are believed to have medicinal values in parts of Asia.