A Tiger named Tele...
Information regarding the trapped tiger was far from detailed and the condition of the animal was not known. The basic plan was to get the tiger and move it, after the veterinarians had examined it, to the Gunung Leuser National Park. However, upon arrival, it was found that this animal would not be able to be released due to multiple wounds. The tiger's tail was pinched in the door of the trap and had already become infected. Furthermore, after tranquilising it and closely examining it, it was found to be missing all but two digits on one forepaw and all of the digits on the other, as a result of snaring. Further examination still revealed a snare on the foreleg that the animal's skin had grown over completely except for a piece of wire protruding out at one spot. The snare was made of the brake cable from a bicycle.

Interestingly, the village people that had captured the tiger did not want to see it destroyed, as the local police intended on doing. A few entrepreneurs had set up a small tent and were selling soup and rice, as well as charging admission to the bus loads of villagers coming to see the trapped tiger. The Forestry Department was involved as well, but were quite undecided as to what should be done. It was finally agreed that the animal should be taken back to the Medan Zoo, for treatment. While loading the tranquilized animal into the truck, the crowd swarmed around it, pulling out its whiskers, hair and trying to pull out claws...

The Sumatran Tiger Panthera tigris sumatrae is Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List), primarily by poaching for its body parts. The wildlife trade monitoring organization TRAFFIC collaborated with other conservation groups working in Sumatra, Indonesia to put together the first comprehensive analysis of poaching and trade. Human-tiger conflict, incidental killing of tigers in wire snares set for other species, and Sumatran zoos are also covered. The Government of Indonesia is called upon to strengthen law enforcement capacities. CAT Director Kristin Nowell served as technical editor for the report:
Nowhere to Hide: The Trade in Sumatran Tiger. Chris R. Shepherd and Nolan Magnus. 2004. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia report, 108 pages. Download the report as a PDF file, 900 KB.

Media coverage
•Hunters 'threaten Sumatran tiger' BBC News
•Sumatran tigers face their last days on Earth Mail & Guardian
•Researchers warn Sumatran tiger may disappear Scientific American
•Six Indonesians arrested for hunting, buying endangered tigers Agence France Presse
•Fake tiger parts found in Singapore New Paper
•Sumatran tiger on brink of extinction TRAFFIC press release and how to order a print copy of the report

A new national park for Sumatran tigers
•Camera traps have confirmed the presence of tigers in Sumatra's newest national park, Batang Gadis, supported by Conservation International's Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund