The iconic Sumatran animal was found dead hanging over the edge of a ravine, with a steel sling snare still wrapped around its waist.

Ironically, at the time of necropsy by a team of doctors from the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA Riau) and the Arsari Djojohadikusomo Foundation and WWF-Indonesia Central Sumatra Program, two intact Sumatran Tiger fetuses were found ready to be born.

The two Sumatran Tiger fetuses are male and female, weighing 6.5 ounces and 6 ounces, respectively. The age of the fetuses is estimated to be quite mature and will likely be born in the next two weeks.

Suharyono, head of the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center, said, "We regret the death of these tigers, including two tiger cubs, due to entanglement." He added, "We immediately dispatched a team to sweep the snares around the location and several areas in Riau that are vulnerable to poaching threats."

The same thing was conveyed by Febri Anggriawan Widodo, Module Leader of Tiger Research WWF-Indonesia Central Sumatra Program who regretted this sad incident. "It is unfortunate that national priority animals and important for local culture must die due to snares. The condition of the Sumatran Tiger population itself is currently critical due to various threats and pressures such as habitat loss and shrinkage, poaching and conflict with humans." said Febri.

Following up on this incident, the WWF tiger patrol team also conducted a sweep around the scene and will collect related information for the next process.

Currently, the population of Sumatran tigers is increasingly threatened due to poaching and massive habitat destruction. There needs to be commitment and affirmation from various parties who care about the survival of this iconic Indonesian animal.

The female Sumatran tiger killed by the pig snare was found based on a community report. In addition to securing one Sumatran Tiger carcass, BBKSDA Riau Rescue team also secured one witness with initials E who found the protected animal for the first time on Tuesday (25/9). The location of the Sumatran Tiger carcass discovery is outside the Rimbang Bukit Baling Wildlife Sanctuary but is still included in the landscape of the Rimbang Baling Wildlife Sanctuary, which is one of the Sumatran Tiger population pockets.