Residents in Talang 11 district in West Lampung Regency have no legal rights to the land where they live, but the regional government has no alternative land to offer them and can only encourage the residents not to damage the nearby forest.
The first attacks took place mid December 2005 and involved tigers and livestock belonging to residents of Talang 11 and Talang Kalianda, a cluster of settlements within a four kilometer radius.
Another attack took place the next year, on March 2006 and two attacks were recorded in January and October 2007. A total of 14 goats and a dog were taken in the attacks, which cost the community some Rp 4 million (US$330).
"We were worried that if the community livestock is depleted the tigers will start to attack human beings," Dwi Nugroho Adhiasto, coordinator of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Wildlife Response Unit, which handles conflict between wild animals and human beings, said.
The organization also works together with residents of Talang 11 to carry out patrols and employ watchmen every night, when the presence of tigers increases.
He said the intensity of tigers is usually high at the start of the durian season. It is believed that the tigers like eating durian, commonly found around Talang 11. Patrolling is done in turns using simple equipment, such as alarms sounded by drums and sirens to drive the tigers away from their kampong.
The organization has developed a livestock yard design and a tiger-proof enclosure.
The WCS-IP tiger project team first piloted the prototype in 2005 in Ngaras, West Lampung.
This specially designed livestock yards have been tested in two places. These are Tebat Selebang in Ogan Komering Ulu Regency, South Sumatra and Talang Kalianda in the West Lampung Regency.
As of February 2008, 68 livestock yards, including 17 in Talang 11 district, have been built together with local communities. The results have been positive - none of the livestock yards have been attacked by tigers.
Livestock attacks by tigers went down drastically, by more than 50 percent, in three locations where the yards have been installed.
The results of camera traps which were set by the Wildlife Response Unit (WRU) from March 26 to April 26, 2008 showed a high number of wild animal species around Talang 11. From four cameras set in the nearby oil palm plantations, at least nine types of wild animals were seen roaming the district.
What surprised everyone was that among them were protected wild animals whose population in the wild was believed to have fallen because of pressure from hunting and the settlements.
These animals include the Sumatra tiger, tapirs, the Malaysian sun-bear, the greater mouse-deer, leopard cats and Malayan porcupines.
The group has worked together with different institutions to curb hunting around Talang 11 and ensure the tigers have enough food.
"As of 2009 tigers still survive in Talang 11 and the community can look after livestock safely. It means tigers and human beings can live side by side in peace," Dwi said.
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