After carefully scanning the surroundings with his watchful eyes, Danau Putra, slowly emerged out of a silver cage, with his tail moving gingerly. As if sensing the freedom ahead, he then rushed to the deep forest in Indonesia’s Sumatra island, and in a blink of an eye the infant tiger disappeared into his home.

Danau Putra is one of few hundreds of critically endangered Sumatran tigers left roaming in Sumatra, home to some of the world’s richest tropical rainforests. The island has also witnessed rapid development of plantations and urbanization in recent decades, threatening the ecosystem of the big cats. Wildlife trade and human-wildlife conflict have also been the long-life enemies of the species

The one and a half-year-old tiger cub is one of dozens who have been released back to the wild under UNDP Indonesia’s Sumatran Tiger Project, which has been working in partnership with local environmentalists, national parts and local governments to support the national parks and boost wildlife protection, among others.

Last week, Danau Putra, was found injured by the local people in his habitat in the area of Mount Leuser National Park, in Gulo Village, Darul Hasanah Sub-District, West Aceh District, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. Based on the investigation, Danau Putra was in severe condition during capture.

Man-made traps are easily found everywhere within the the habitat the Sumatran Tigers. Local farmers usually set the traps to prey for wild animals to prevent them encroaching their farming land. Nonetheless, some the traps were also placed within the area of the national park, the habitat of the Sumatran Tiger.

When a a local farmer found Putra, he had been struggling to release himself from a wired-trap. Through the synergy with other partners, the Mount Leuser National Park and Aceh Nature Conservancy Agency, including the medical team who are at the front line for the healing and recovery process during the rescue.

“We take all the precautions and followed procedure when it comes to animal rescue, especially the ones related to human-wildlfe conflict. We examined the animal to determine the severity of the injury after the rescue. We can release the animal after intensive care but we can also release it after a process of recovery,” said Adhi Nurul Hadi, Head of technical field of conservation, Mount Leuser National Park (BBTNGL).

During the rescue and recovery process, the team scanned the surrounding areas for any traps to reduce the risk of other Sumatran Tigers from being trapped. In the end, the “Sapu Jerat” (Sweep the Trap) team managed to spot and discarded 40 different traps, based on tips from the local community. At the same time, the village authorities briefed the residents about stopping farming activities in areas near the Mount Leuser National Park. Authorities wanted to prevent possible conflict with the mother tiger who may have ventured to the nearby areas, looking for the captured infant tiger, Danau Putra.

After a week, on the morning of Saturday,30 January, the coalition team proceeded with the release of the Sumatran tiger to his habitat. The coalition team included the Mount Leuser National Park (BBTNGL), the Nature Conservancy Agency (BKSDA) Aceh province, the Sub-District Head of Darul Hasanah, Darul Hasanah Sector Policy Chief, Post Commander of Military Headquarters at Sub-District level, Darul Hasanah Head of Village, with partners of UNDP Indonesia’s Sumatran Tiger Project, WCS-IP (Wildlife Conservation Society-Indonesia Program), and the Leuser Conservancy Forum (FKL- Forum Konservasi Leuser).

Danau Putra would not have been brought back to his home without the synergies among stakeholders in protecting the wildlife. Working with local leaders, the partnership is putting the local people at the forefront of wildlife protection.

The tiger cub may not be able to find its mother for a while, but for now Danau Putra is finally home again.

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Writing by Enggi Dewanti.

Editing by Tomi Soetjipto and Ranjit Jose.