A Sumatran tiger has been found hiding in a basement of a shophouse in a market in Pulau Burung village, Indragiri Hilir regency, Riau, stirring uproar in the densely populated area.

The presence of the tiger was first known on Wednesday at about 11 a.m. local time, when a resident spotted it walking around under the attached stilt houses belonging to Johari, Atek, Aming and Ayang.

Shortly afterwards, the picture of the tiger went viral on social media and people flocked the market to see the animal.

The police and residents put nets around the shop and continued monitoring the tiger's movements until Thursday morning.

“To prevent the tiger from going out, police and military personnel remained on guard at the location until the team from the BKSDA Riau arrived here,” said the chief of the Pulau Burung Police, First Insp. Junaidi, on Thursday, referring to the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency.

At least three Sumatran tigers have been spotted in housing areas in Pulau Burung in the last two months. On Sept. 9 and Oct. 25, a tiger wounded a number of cows in the Sungai Danai and Teluk Nibung subdistricts.

BKSDA Riau spokesperson Dian Indriati said her office had earlier placed traps and installed surveillance cameras in some spots to trace the tigers’ whereabouts but without success.

A rescue team had been sent to the location on Thursday morning, Dian said.

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