Poaching tigers: it's a way to make a living...
Most Sumatran tigers are killed by professional or semi-professional hunters operating individually or in small groups. In the provinces of Lampung and Riau it is estimated that each team kills an average of two tigers annually, while some hunters may catch many more.
Methods of capture
Sumatran tigers are killed primarily with inexpensive and simple-to-make wire cable leg-hold snares. Some are also poisoned, particularly those killed as a result of human-tiger conflict (see list of hunting methods below).
The wire snares which catch and kill Sumatran tigers are sometimes intended to catch other species, and the tiger dies by accident. TRAFFIC investigations suggest that at least four tigers die as "incidental killings" each year.
Where they are caught
Previously, it was thought that tigers were being poached primarily on the edges of forests in regions near villages where they come into conflict with people. However, in the TRAFFIC survey, poachers and undercover investigators state that tigers are hunted deep within national parks.
Methods of capture
Sumatran tigers are killed primarily with inexpensive and simple-to-make wire cable leg-hold snares. Some are also poisoned, particularly those killed as a result of human-tiger conflict (see list of hunting methods below).
The wire snares which catch and kill Sumatran tigers are sometimes intended to catch other species, and the tiger dies by accident. TRAFFIC investigations suggest that at least four tigers die as "incidental killings" each year.
Where they are caught
Previously, it was thought that tigers were being poached primarily on the edges of forests in regions near villages where they come into conflict with people. However, in the TRAFFIC survey, poachers and undercover investigators state that tigers are hunted deep within national parks.
Around 51 tigers killed each year
Although the numbers of tigers incidentally killed or as a result of human-tiger conflict are significant, most tigers in Sumatra are apparently killed deliberately for commercial gain.
Information collected from a 2002 TRAFFIC survey indicates that an average of at least 51 Sumatran tigers per year were killed or removed from 1998-2002. In at least 78% of cases, the primary motive appears to be poaching for trade.
Snares | Poison | Guns | Pit traps | Box traps
- Snares
Leg Hold Snares
These snares are simple, cheap and yet highly effective. This method of hunting allows teams of hunters to set 60 or more snares per day providing maximum coverage of an area in an effort to catch tigers with very little financial cost, physical exertion or risk of being caught.
Professional poachers prefer heavy-duty cable since this minimizes lacerations that would reduce the value of the tiger pelt. However, this type of cable requires a substantial investment by poachers and financial constraints thus limit the number of snares that can be set. Brake cable or heavy-duty nylon rope may also be used; the advantage being that cheap materials allow for a large number of snares to be set.
Prior to setting snares a scouting trip is often conducted to select sites. Hunters look for tiger sign (tracks or faeces), but also choose areas that are relatively rich in tiger prey. These scouting trips usually take at least one or two days.
The setting of the snares usually takes about one day to complete. For each snare, a small pit is dug and the snare is set and covered with leaves and debris to conceal it. A young flexible but solid tree or tree branch near the snare acts as the spring. Finally a small log or branch is placed across the path in front of the snare. This requires that the tiger step across the log into the loop of wire snare, triggering the tree spring and tightening the noose around its foot. The use of a log obstacle is reported to cause the tiger to place its full weight on the readied trap and prevents it from quickly pulling back when the trap is sprung. Some hunters claim they know the length of a tiger's stride and this allows them to place the log in order to specifically catch tigers. Tigers can be caught in any cable snare with a large enough loop setting for its foot, no matter what the target species a hunter may have been aiming for.
Body and Neck Snares
Two sticks about 130 cm long are erected approximately 60cm apart - or as large as is deemed necessary from a consideration of any identified paw prints - on either side of a path. A snare approximately 70cm in diameter is then made using steel wire. The snare is placed between the two sticks and the end is connected to a solid flexible young tree trunk, which serves as a spring.
The tree is selected based on strength and flexibility. It must be small enough and flexible enough that it can be bent over to act as a spring for the snare, yet big enough that it can hold the partial weight of the tiger suspended in the air once the snare is sprung.
Setting the spring usually requires the help of at least two other people to bend the tree over and set the trigger mechanism. A tiger walking along this trail would push the wire releasing the trigger. This allows the tree to snap back to its upright position and draws the snare tight around the neck or body of the tiger. The tree in its upright position keeps tension on the wire so that the snare does not loosen allowing the tiger to escape.
Snares | Poison | Guns | Pit traps | Box traps
- Poison
The poison most often used appears to be a commercially available organophosphate-based poison for wild pigs, known as the TheMix 500 mg.
There are two primary methods for poisoning tigers. The first involves killing a chicken and then filling the stomach with poison. The carcass is then taken to an area frequented by the tiger and left for the tiger to find.
The other means involves locating a tiger kill. Tigers usually eat some of their kill and hide the rest for later. Thie hidden carcass is then covered with poison by the hunters, who come back in several days to collect the dead tiger that had returned to feed. This method is frequently used when tigers prey on livestock close to a village, but it is also used by poachers.
Snares | Poison | Guns | Pit traps | Box traps
- Rifles or homemade guns
Hunting tigers using guns alone is very rare.Hunting clubs, the army and the police are most often responsible for this type of tiger poaching.
Often police and army personnel are used as guards for timber or other types of industrial companies who are located in or around protected areas where tigers might be found. Although it is believed they do not go out purposefully looking for tigers to poach, such people often shoot as a recreational past time.
It is important to note that these men are not thought to be working for tiger traders or gangs selling tigers.
Snares | Poison | Guns | Pit traps | Box traps
- Pit traps
Pit traps are rarely used to hunt tigers. There are several reasons for this.
The first reason is that although making a pit trap is cheap it is very labour intensive. Digging pits that are large and deep requires time. The more time an individual must spend in the protected area, the greater the likelihood they may be caught. At the same time the hunter cannot set as many traps and this therefore reduces the probability of catching a tiger: 60 snares can be set in one day where as a single pit trap may take several days to dig. Pit traps may be used for elephants and rhino as well as tigers.
Snares | Poison | Guns | Pit traps | Box traps
- Box traps
This trap is a "room" made of poles, approximately 3.25m long, 0.6m wide, and approximately 1.3m high. Within it, live bait such as a goat, is tied up at the back. When the tiger enters the trap, it sets in action a mechanism which shuts the door.
Snares | Poison | Guns | Pit traps | Box traps
