Three Sumatran tigers were found dead in Indonesia after being trapped in snares, police said. With fewer than 400 left in the wild, Sumatran tigers are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Uncontrolled deforestation has reduced the tigers’ natural habitat and increased conflict with humans, conservation officials said. A week ago, authorities found two tiger carcasses next to each other with their feet trapped by steel snares at a palm oil plantation in East Aceh district, police said.
The third dead tiger was found about 500 metres (1,600 feet) away from where the other two tigers were discovered. His feet were also
trapped by a steel snare, and his body had started to rot.
Police said the tigers died after being caught in boar traps. The head of Aceh conservation agency, Agus Arianto, said that if the traps were placed intentionally for the tigers, they “will take strict action.”
The Animal Reader is a small independent animal news platform based in the Netherlands. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.