1 00:00:03,019 --> 00:00:05,349 Speaker 1: You're listening to AC N A podcast? 2 00:00:10,189 --> 00:00:14,069 Speaker 1: Hi guys. Welcome to the CN A correspondent podcast with me, 3 00:00:14,079 --> 00:00:14,909 Speaker 1: Teresa Tang. 4 00:00:15,140 --> 00:00:17,879 Speaker 1: I want to start this episode by saying a huge 5 00:00:17,889 --> 00:00:20,879 Speaker 1: thank you to all of you who have subscribed to 6 00:00:20,889 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: this program on Spotify and on Apple podcasts. Your support 7 00:00:25,090 --> 00:00:27,479 Speaker 1: means so much to me and the rest of the team. 8 00:00:27,489 --> 00:00:31,350 Speaker 1: And if you haven't subscribed, please do so. It's easy. 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,409 Speaker 1: Just hit that follow button wherever you get your podcasts. 10 00:00:34,569 --> 00:00:37,758 Speaker 1: All right on to something completely different. Now, this week, 11 00:00:37,770 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: we are taking a closer look at boar hunting in 12 00:00:40,848 --> 00:00:43,759 Speaker 1: West Sumatra, Indonesia. Now picture this 13 00:00:44,270 --> 00:00:48,778 Speaker 1: dogs boars blood and a lot of Spectators 14 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,209 Speaker 1: that sound comes from a video clip that captures part 15 00:00:58,220 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: of a wild boar hunt. Dozens of dogs and their handlers. 16 00:01:01,729 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: They are on a lush green hillside. The terrain is 17 00:01:04,970 --> 00:01:08,500 Speaker 1: uneven and they're not all really going in the same direction. 18 00:01:08,650 --> 00:01:10,449 Speaker 1: And suddenly this, 19 00:01:13,620 --> 00:01:16,550 Speaker 1: a crowd gathers around a group of canines ready to 20 00:01:16,559 --> 00:01:20,110 Speaker 1: kill the boar in the middle. Doesn't stand a chance. 21 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,629 Speaker 1: I don't need to describe what happens next. CN A's 22 00:01:23,639 --> 00:01:29,639 Speaker 1: Nell Rada covered this story and he joins me. Now Hi, Nell. Hi. Hi, Theresa. 23 00:01:30,169 --> 00:01:33,220 Speaker 1: I'm just going to start by saying that boar hunting 24 00:01:33,230 --> 00:01:35,309 Speaker 1: is not my thing. I don't think it will ever 25 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:37,910 Speaker 1: be my thing, but I am interested to learn more 26 00:01:37,919 --> 00:01:41,209 Speaker 1: about it. Some are saying it's barbaric. Others say it's 27 00:01:41,220 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 1: about sportsmanship and eradicating pests. What was your impression of 28 00:01:45,970 --> 00:01:47,989 Speaker 1: boar hunting the first time you saw it? 29 00:01:48,239 --> 00:01:50,930 Speaker 1: Well, one thing about me, both my parents were, are 30 00:01:50,940 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: actually from West Sumatra. So early on as a kid. 31 00:01:54,370 --> 00:01:57,970 Speaker 1: Whenever we went up there visiting my grandparents, I would 32 00:01:57,980 --> 00:02:00,180 Speaker 1: see these group of people at the side of the 33 00:02:00,190 --> 00:02:03,599 Speaker 1: road with their dogs. And I asked my dad, what 34 00:02:03,610 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: are these people doing? And he would tell me that 35 00:02:06,050 --> 00:02:10,300 Speaker 1: they're hunting for boars because boars often encroach their farmland 36 00:02:10,399 --> 00:02:14,429 Speaker 1: and destroy everything. But I never knew what these hunting 37 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,138 Speaker 1: events were all about until I did the story and 38 00:02:17,149 --> 00:02:20,979 Speaker 1: saw one up close. So when I went to one, 39 00:02:21,070 --> 00:02:23,500 Speaker 1: there must have been at least like 80 hunters and 40 00:02:23,508 --> 00:02:26,779 Speaker 1: each of them were carrying two or three dogs. The 41 00:02:26,788 --> 00:02:29,630 Speaker 1: moment I saw the sheer number of hunters involved, I 42 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,288 Speaker 1: knew that this isn't just about p 43 00:02:32,559 --> 00:02:36,529 Speaker 1: control, at least not anymore. And there was one boar 44 00:02:36,538 --> 00:02:38,978 Speaker 1: that was spotted a few days before the hunt. So 45 00:02:38,990 --> 00:02:42,630 Speaker 1: you can imagine 80 hunters and their dogs and against 46 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,820 Speaker 1: one boar. So, really, it's a pastime. But what was 47 00:02:46,830 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: shocking to me is when I noticed that none of 48 00:02:49,610 --> 00:02:53,970 Speaker 1: them were carrying guns or arrows or any other weapons. 49 00:02:53,979 --> 00:02:57,119 Speaker 1: So I asked them, so how do you kill the 50 00:02:57,130 --> 00:02:58,460 Speaker 1: boar once you spot one? 51 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:00,869 Speaker 1: And they all said, you know, we'll just release the 52 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,979 Speaker 1: dogs and let them square off with the boars. And 53 00:03:03,990 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 1: sometimes the dogs win and the boar dies. Sometimes the 54 00:03:07,089 --> 00:03:10,989 Speaker 1: boar wins and the dogs die or gravely wounded. You know, 55 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:15,050 Speaker 1: I was speechless knowing just, just how brutal it is. 56 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,820 Speaker 1: If this is really about getting rid of pests, then 57 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,589 Speaker 1: why not do it in the most effective and efficient 58 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:24,979 Speaker 1: way possible. So this is not about pest control anymore. 59 00:03:24,990 --> 00:03:28,479 Speaker 1: I guess it's, this is, has grown into a sport 60 00:03:28,490 --> 00:03:30,179 Speaker 1: and a brutal. One of that, 61 00:03:31,020 --> 00:03:33,860 Speaker 1: I've seen a few clips of these hunts and like 62 00:03:33,869 --> 00:03:38,259 Speaker 1: I said, in my introduction, we're talking about hillsides, dense vegetation. 63 00:03:38,270 --> 00:03:41,300 Speaker 1: This is not an arena with pavement with nice seats. 64 00:03:41,309 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: It's very much in the wild neville. Can you explain 65 00:03:44,729 --> 00:03:47,559 Speaker 1: how it works? I don't really understand. I mean, these Spectators, 66 00:03:47,570 --> 00:03:49,860 Speaker 1: they have to follow the action. Right. It seems a 67 00:03:49,869 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: little bit risky. 68 00:03:51,789 --> 00:03:55,710 Speaker 1: Well, it's not really a spectator sport per se when 69 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,009 Speaker 1: we went up there, almost everyone who's, there were hunters 70 00:03:59,020 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: themselves and although some were actively pursuing the board, they 71 00:04:03,330 --> 00:04:05,419 Speaker 1: had dogs sniffing their tracks and they went up and 72 00:04:05,429 --> 00:04:08,919 Speaker 1: down the slopes. Some were just like lounging around, waiting 73 00:04:08,929 --> 00:04:11,669 Speaker 1: around at the bottom of the hill. You know, I 74 00:04:11,679 --> 00:04:15,089 Speaker 1: guess to cover every possible escape route that this board 75 00:04:15,100 --> 00:04:15,690 Speaker 1: might take. 76 00:04:16,049 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 1: But when the dog started barking, which means that they're 77 00:04:19,488 --> 00:04:23,118 Speaker 1: hot on its trail or that they have spotted the boar, 78 00:04:23,230 --> 00:04:27,070 Speaker 1: everyone sprang to life. Everyone raced to that particular spot 79 00:04:27,260 --> 00:04:30,630 Speaker 1: where the dogs were barking because they all wanted their 80 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: dogs to be the one with the k or at 81 00:04:32,450 --> 00:04:34,779 Speaker 1: the very least watch the stand up 82 00:04:34,894 --> 00:04:39,554 Speaker 1: unfolds. But fortunately for the animal lover in me and 83 00:04:39,565 --> 00:04:43,154 Speaker 1: the boar, of course, they found nothing, you know, despite 84 00:04:43,165 --> 00:04:45,725 Speaker 1: spending hours of searching, you know, there were a few 85 00:04:45,734 --> 00:04:49,545 Speaker 1: false alarms with dog barking and some hunters think they 86 00:04:49,565 --> 00:04:52,355 Speaker 1: saw a boar. But at the end of the day 87 00:04:52,363 --> 00:04:53,635 Speaker 1: they didn't catch anything. 88 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:56,570 Speaker 1: Is it difficult for you to follow the action? You know, 89 00:04:56,579 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: if you're on the hillside with them? Oh, man, I 90 00:04:59,329 --> 00:05:02,670 Speaker 1: fell down at least three times because the slopes were 91 00:05:02,678 --> 00:05:06,940 Speaker 1: very slippery. And I think at one point I was lost, 92 00:05:06,950 --> 00:05:09,190 Speaker 1: like I didn't know where I was and I ended 93 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:13,238 Speaker 1: up like going down and I ended up like, not 94 00:05:13,250 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: where I first started the journey. So, on the other 95 00:05:17,049 --> 00:05:19,229 Speaker 1: side of the hill, you know, so it's a long 96 00:05:19,238 --> 00:05:19,859 Speaker 1: walk back. 97 00:05:19,954 --> 00:05:23,934 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah. Ok. It sounds challenging in your story. You 98 00:05:23,945 --> 00:05:27,494 Speaker 1: speak to several boar hunters. A lot of them say 99 00:05:27,505 --> 00:05:29,795 Speaker 1: they started when they were very young. What sort of 100 00:05:29,803 --> 00:05:33,515 Speaker 1: financial investment then is needed to get into it? Is 101 00:05:33,524 --> 00:05:35,404 Speaker 1: there money to be made? In this pursuit. 102 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,219 Speaker 1: Yeah. So a lot of these people started very young 103 00:05:39,230 --> 00:05:42,220 Speaker 1: and I guess they were introduced by their father or 104 00:05:42,230 --> 00:05:45,679 Speaker 1: their older brother. So it's kind of like a, a 105 00:05:46,100 --> 00:05:50,339 Speaker 1: bonding thing at first, you know, but once the adrenaline 106 00:05:50,350 --> 00:05:53,339 Speaker 1: kicks in, you know, the rush of the pursuit 107 00:05:53,670 --> 00:05:57,170 Speaker 1: it becomes addictive for them. So, yeah. And like you said, 108 00:05:57,178 --> 00:06:00,329 Speaker 1: there is a whole industry going on behind the sport. 109 00:06:00,339 --> 00:06:02,769 Speaker 1: I mean, like there are people who go looking for 110 00:06:02,779 --> 00:06:06,290 Speaker 1: hunting dogs all the way to West Java and other 111 00:06:06,299 --> 00:06:09,419 Speaker 1: parts of Sumatra and ship them to West Sumatra. There 112 00:06:09,428 --> 00:06:13,549 Speaker 1: are breeders, I guess catering to the more affluent hunters 113 00:06:13,559 --> 00:06:18,419 Speaker 1: looking to acquire like pit bulls or bull terriers. You know, 114 00:06:18,428 --> 00:06:19,700 Speaker 1: because it is a 115 00:06:19,975 --> 00:06:22,415 Speaker 1: of right for them, you know, during hunts like this, 116 00:06:22,424 --> 00:06:25,695 Speaker 1: surely they will get all the attention with their pure 117 00:06:25,704 --> 00:06:28,165 Speaker 1: bred dogs. When all the other dogs down there are 118 00:06:28,174 --> 00:06:31,125 Speaker 1: mixed bred and the prices of these dogs can go up, 119 00:06:31,135 --> 00:06:34,915 Speaker 1: you know, once they are properly trained, once they've been 120 00:06:34,924 --> 00:06:38,575 Speaker 1: to these hunts, they can command a lot of money and, 121 00:06:38,584 --> 00:06:41,475 Speaker 1: and I'm talking like enough money to buy a car 122 00:06:41,674 --> 00:06:44,644 Speaker 1: if the dog is like an ace dog with numerous 123 00:06:44,654 --> 00:06:45,885 Speaker 1: confirmed kills. 124 00:06:46,220 --> 00:06:49,119 Speaker 1: And there are even schools where dogs are trained to 125 00:06:49,130 --> 00:06:51,450 Speaker 1: track down the scent of a boar and go through 126 00:06:51,459 --> 00:06:55,750 Speaker 1: obstacle courses once they're trained. Once they get their killer 127 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,070 Speaker 1: instinct from these schools, the handlers have to keep spending 128 00:06:59,079 --> 00:07:02,519 Speaker 1: money to keep them fed, feed them with special food 129 00:07:02,529 --> 00:07:06,269 Speaker 1: which they believe can enhance their strength and stamina. I 130 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: talked to one Hunter Sumantra who said that he spent 131 00:07:10,049 --> 00:07:13,450 Speaker 1: hundreds and hundreds of dollars each month for the hobby. 132 00:07:13,609 --> 00:07:15,230 Speaker 1: And here's my interview with him. 133 00:07:17,309 --> 00:07:21,010 Speaker 1: It's hard. You have to feed the hunting dogs, walk 134 00:07:21,019 --> 00:07:24,989 Speaker 1: them in the morning and afternoon, give them vitamins, make 135 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:29,209 Speaker 1: sure they exercise like swimming and train by doing bite 136 00:07:29,220 --> 00:07:33,660 Speaker 1: work to stimulate their jaw muscles. The sport, it's deeply 137 00:07:33,670 --> 00:07:36,390 Speaker 1: entrenched in the region and it's been part of West 138 00:07:36,399 --> 00:07:39,910 Speaker 1: Sumatran culture for generations. You talk about the experience with 139 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:41,070 Speaker 1: your dad when you were young 140 00:07:41,290 --> 00:07:44,459 Speaker 1: and your report talks about how it all started because 141 00:07:44,470 --> 00:07:47,839 Speaker 1: these boars were considered a nuisance. They were getting into crops, 142 00:07:47,850 --> 00:07:51,869 Speaker 1: they were messing up farmlands, but things have changed. How 143 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:54,630 Speaker 1: did it evolve into more of a hobby? Well, in 144 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,269 Speaker 1: the beginning, it was about pest control. I mean, the 145 00:07:57,279 --> 00:08:01,209 Speaker 1: hunt would involve no more than a dozen men and 146 00:08:01,220 --> 00:08:04,790 Speaker 1: they're usually locals from the village where the boar was spotted. 147 00:08:05,109 --> 00:08:08,359 Speaker 1: But, you know, with deforestation and the decline of the 148 00:08:08,369 --> 00:08:12,489 Speaker 1: A boar population, you start seeing hunters from village a 149 00:08:12,670 --> 00:08:15,950 Speaker 1: because there were no boars left in that village participating 150 00:08:15,959 --> 00:08:19,649 Speaker 1: in the hunt organized by village B. So it grew 151 00:08:19,660 --> 00:08:25,390 Speaker 1: and grew and eventually they formed clubs which transformed into 152 00:08:25,410 --> 00:08:29,149 Speaker 1: a full fledged organization and the event became more coordinate 153 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:30,690 Speaker 1: and organized and it 154 00:08:30,769 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: became a weekly thing and then it became biweekly thing. 155 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:38,109 Speaker 1: You know, eventually local governments began seeing an opportunity to 156 00:08:38,119 --> 00:08:42,789 Speaker 1: boost their tourism and they began organizing like these big 157 00:08:42,799 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: hunting events which last two or three days involving 1000 158 00:08:47,969 --> 00:08:52,468 Speaker 1: or more participants, attracting participants from different parts of Indonesia. 159 00:08:52,479 --> 00:08:56,070 Speaker 1: Coming to West Sumatra. Just to participate in this more events. 160 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:56,309 Speaker 1: You know, 161 00:08:57,119 --> 00:09:00,500 Speaker 1: these guys who are involved in boar hunting, they love it, 162 00:09:00,510 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: don't they? The blood, the sense of triumph over the wild. 163 00:09:04,330 --> 00:09:08,270 Speaker 1: There's real adrenaline and pride in this sport. Neville. Yeah, 164 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:11,979 Speaker 1: I mean, like I met this hunter Sumantra who have 165 00:09:11,989 --> 00:09:14,530 Speaker 1: been doing this for 40 years. He's an old man 166 00:09:14,539 --> 00:09:17,619 Speaker 1: now and he was introduced by his father back when 167 00:09:17,630 --> 00:09:19,380 Speaker 1: he was in junior high. 168 00:09:19,700 --> 00:09:22,559 Speaker 1: So for him, in the beginning, it was a bonding 169 00:09:22,570 --> 00:09:25,780 Speaker 1: moment between a father and son. But when this dog 170 00:09:25,789 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: of his, the dog that he had cared for since 171 00:09:28,890 --> 00:09:32,119 Speaker 1: it was a pup, the dog that he had spent 172 00:09:32,130 --> 00:09:36,530 Speaker 1: months and years training actually succeeded in killing a boar 173 00:09:36,690 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: when all the other dogs failed. You know, he said 174 00:09:40,010 --> 00:09:42,299 Speaker 1: he was, it was the best feeling in the world. 175 00:09:42,309 --> 00:09:43,869 Speaker 1: So here's what he said. 176 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:49,049 Speaker 1: I can't describe how happy I am whenever my dogs 177 00:09:49,059 --> 00:09:52,728 Speaker 1: are covered in bore blood. After catching them, the farmers 178 00:09:52,739 --> 00:09:56,900 Speaker 1: are also happy because pests are killed. I'm so proud. 179 00:09:56,909 --> 00:10:00,109 Speaker 1: This female dog can catch a boar. It can be 180 00:10:00,119 --> 00:10:03,580 Speaker 1: dangerous though. And it's not guaranteed that the dogs are 181 00:10:03,590 --> 00:10:07,209 Speaker 1: going to come out victorious. You've spoken to hunters whose 182 00:10:07,219 --> 00:10:10,380 Speaker 1: dogs didn't come out the winning end. What is that like? 183 00:10:10,390 --> 00:10:12,020 Speaker 1: Is it really devastating? 184 00:10:12,590 --> 00:10:15,539 Speaker 1: Yeah, these hunters, like I said, don't use guns or 185 00:10:15,549 --> 00:10:19,570 Speaker 1: other weapons to ensure a quick kill. They rely on 186 00:10:19,580 --> 00:10:23,330 Speaker 1: the dog's killer instincts, which they have nurtured from a 187 00:10:23,340 --> 00:10:27,440 Speaker 1: very young age. So when they encounter a boar, the 188 00:10:27,450 --> 00:10:29,619 Speaker 1: handler stabbed them loose and the dogs would, you know, 189 00:10:29,630 --> 00:10:31,049 Speaker 1: square off with the boars, 190 00:10:31,450 --> 00:10:34,630 Speaker 1: you know, boars are bigger and more agile than dogs. 191 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,570 Speaker 1: And they have sharp tusks and they can easily take 192 00:10:37,580 --> 00:10:42,090 Speaker 1: down three or four dogs surrounding them. How big are 193 00:10:42,099 --> 00:10:45,619 Speaker 1: these boars? They're big, they're big, they're big and they're 194 00:10:45,630 --> 00:10:48,950 Speaker 1: very fast and they're very agile. So a lot of 195 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,630 Speaker 1: the times the boars just escape, but there are times 196 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:54,030 Speaker 1: when the boars are 197 00:10:54,135 --> 00:10:57,054 Speaker 1: cornered and felt like it had no choice but to 198 00:10:57,065 --> 00:11:00,635 Speaker 1: fight back. And that's when things can get ugly either 199 00:11:00,645 --> 00:11:03,465 Speaker 1: for the boar or for the dogs. And sometimes it 200 00:11:03,474 --> 00:11:06,715 Speaker 1: can get ugly for the hunters and even local villagers, 201 00:11:06,724 --> 00:11:10,794 Speaker 1: you know, we have cases where people were badly badly 202 00:11:10,804 --> 00:11:14,815 Speaker 1: wounded from the boars basically escaping to their village as 203 00:11:14,825 --> 00:11:16,755 Speaker 1: the hunters were pursuing them. 204 00:11:16,989 --> 00:11:20,020 Speaker 1: And I talked to one young man. His name is 205 00:11:20,030 --> 00:11:23,429 Speaker 1: Mohammed Ariza and he lost his dog during one of 206 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:26,250 Speaker 1: these hunts. Here's him explaining what happened. 207 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,590 Speaker 2: My brother was handling our dog when the boy ran, 208 00:11:30,599 --> 00:11:33,809 Speaker 2: my dog couldn't catch up. The boss switched direction towards 209 00:11:33,820 --> 00:11:36,929 Speaker 2: my brother and the boss tusk stabbed my dog's rib cage. 210 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,630 Speaker 2: The boy escaped and my brother dressed the wound with 211 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,210 Speaker 2: his shirt. He brought the dog to the doctor, but 212 00:11:42,219 --> 00:11:45,690 Speaker 2: the dog was dead before they arrived. I was so sad, 213 00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:46,679 Speaker 2: but that's life. 214 00:11:47,609 --> 00:11:51,929 Speaker 1: The ecological argument of the past was that the boar population, 215 00:11:51,940 --> 00:11:55,510 Speaker 1: it needed to be controlled. Right. But that pendulum has 216 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,750 Speaker 1: swung in the other direction. The boar population appears to 217 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,979 Speaker 1: be dwindling so much. So that in your report, you 218 00:12:01,989 --> 00:12:05,950 Speaker 1: talk about coming up with creative ideas, creative ways to 219 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,830 Speaker 1: ensure that there is a steady supply of boars to hunt. 220 00:12:09,609 --> 00:12:12,799 Speaker 1: Yes, during the hunt, which I observed the hunters came 221 00:12:12,809 --> 00:12:15,789 Speaker 1: out empty handed and they told me that this was 222 00:12:15,799 --> 00:12:18,030 Speaker 1: not the first time that they came out empty handed 223 00:12:18,039 --> 00:12:18,270 Speaker 1: and 224 00:12:18,539 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: this sort of things has been happening more and more often, 225 00:12:21,890 --> 00:12:24,729 Speaker 1: which is a clear sign to me that the population 226 00:12:24,739 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 1: is dwindling. In fact, they told me that sometimes organizers 227 00:12:28,530 --> 00:12:33,049 Speaker 1: would release previously caught, you know, a boars or swines 228 00:12:33,219 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: and even those bred on a farm ahead of the hunt, 229 00:12:36,770 --> 00:12:42,169 Speaker 1: particularly during large scale hunting events. So the hunters can 230 00:12:42,179 --> 00:12:43,919 Speaker 1: at least catch one 231 00:12:44,179 --> 00:12:48,140 Speaker 1: a boar. Yeah. So the strain on that boar population 232 00:12:48,150 --> 00:12:51,140 Speaker 1: is also, it has ripple effects. It's led to a 233 00:12:51,150 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: strain on the Sumatran Tiger as well. It's critically endangered 234 00:12:55,409 --> 00:12:59,349 Speaker 1: and conservationists, they say there are only 600 of these 235 00:12:59,359 --> 00:13:03,380 Speaker 1: Sumatran tigers in the world and 120 of them live 236 00:13:03,390 --> 00:13:05,710 Speaker 1: in West Sumatra. Can you tell me about that part 237 00:13:05,719 --> 00:13:06,239 Speaker 1: of the story? 238 00:13:06,650 --> 00:13:10,070 Speaker 1: Yeah. So the boars themselves are not protective species. In fact, 239 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:13,348 Speaker 1: they are categorized as a species of least concern by 240 00:13:13,359 --> 00:13:18,609 Speaker 1: nature conservation organization, but they are one of the primary 241 00:13:18,619 --> 00:13:22,510 Speaker 1: food sources for the Sumatran tiger. What conservation groups are 242 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:27,070 Speaker 1: worried about is that should the boar population decrease? Then 243 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:30,630 Speaker 1: we will see more and more cases of tigers venturing 244 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:31,869 Speaker 1: into human settlements 245 00:13:31,979 --> 00:13:35,479 Speaker 1: and farmland looking for food which in turn increased the 246 00:13:35,489 --> 00:13:40,359 Speaker 1: risk of conflict between humans and the protected species. And 247 00:13:40,369 --> 00:13:43,770 Speaker 1: that is what is happening. There are reports of that 248 00:13:43,780 --> 00:13:48,530 Speaker 1: happening all across West Sumatra in recent years. So the 249 00:13:48,539 --> 00:13:53,159 Speaker 1: West Sumatra Natural Resource Conservation Agency, they've been trying to 250 00:13:53,169 --> 00:13:57,080 Speaker 1: discourage this practice of hunting down wild boars, but they 251 00:13:57,090 --> 00:14:00,590 Speaker 1: haven't completely outright banned it. Why not? Why don't they 252 00:14:00,599 --> 00:14:01,079 Speaker 1: do that? 253 00:14:01,500 --> 00:14:05,718 Speaker 1: Well, given the popularity of the sport, the support shown 254 00:14:05,729 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: by local governments in staging these massive scale hunting events. 255 00:14:09,770 --> 00:14:13,209 Speaker 1: And the fact that there are a number of politicians 256 00:14:13,219 --> 00:14:17,260 Speaker 1: who are also showing interest in participating in these hunts. 257 00:14:17,500 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: The Nature Conservation Agency is a bit tame in discouraging 258 00:14:23,010 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: the practice. And some argue 259 00:14:25,950 --> 00:14:28,869 Speaker 1: that the practice is vital to keep the boer population 260 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: in check, especially, you know, since 20% of the people 261 00:14:33,010 --> 00:14:37,530 Speaker 1: in Sumatra are farmers and they have so far only 262 00:14:37,539 --> 00:14:41,289 Speaker 1: warned people not to hunt in conservation areas or in 263 00:14:41,299 --> 00:14:44,859 Speaker 1: tiger migration routes. And it's not easy to change a 264 00:14:44,869 --> 00:14:48,989 Speaker 1: tradition that has been there for generations and generations. It 265 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:49,570 Speaker 1: takes time. 266 00:14:50,770 --> 00:14:54,289 Speaker 1: I find it very interesting that youth in these communities 267 00:14:54,299 --> 00:14:57,739 Speaker 1: in these rural areas are picking up those traditional skills 268 00:14:57,750 --> 00:15:00,450 Speaker 1: that you need to be successful in this sport. It 269 00:15:00,460 --> 00:15:04,210 Speaker 1: means they're maintaining that link to the past in their communities. 270 00:15:04,489 --> 00:15:08,109 Speaker 1: For you, you grew up, you knew about this sport 271 00:15:08,119 --> 00:15:10,469 Speaker 1: and you're still following it today. What struck you the 272 00:15:10,479 --> 00:15:12,030 Speaker 1: most about this story? 273 00:15:12,739 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: Well, I didn't understand that it involves such a brutal nature. 274 00:15:18,210 --> 00:15:20,719 Speaker 1: I didn't know about the brutal nature of the sport 275 00:15:20,729 --> 00:15:23,900 Speaker 1: really when I first learned about them, I mean, like 276 00:15:23,909 --> 00:15:26,500 Speaker 1: I can understand the need to keep the boer population 277 00:15:26,510 --> 00:15:30,109 Speaker 1: in check. I can understand that this is a tradition 278 00:15:30,119 --> 00:15:33,679 Speaker 1: that has existed for generation. I can understand why some 279 00:15:33,690 --> 00:15:36,630 Speaker 1: people are drawn to the thrill of the chase and 280 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:37,789 Speaker 1: the adrenaline rush. 281 00:15:38,179 --> 00:15:41,169 Speaker 1: But for me, the main question is, can we come 282 00:15:41,179 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 1: up with a safer and less brutal way of keeping 283 00:15:44,530 --> 00:15:48,739 Speaker 1: these boars away from people's farmlands? And I just think 284 00:15:48,820 --> 00:15:51,409 Speaker 1: there has to be a better way, you know, for 285 00:15:51,419 --> 00:15:54,229 Speaker 1: people to be safe. Did you see any Children on 286 00:15:54,239 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: those hillsides when you went to go watch these boar hunts? No, 287 00:15:58,289 --> 00:16:01,729 Speaker 1: but the location was very near a village which has 288 00:16:01,739 --> 00:16:03,359 Speaker 1: a lot of Children. I mean, you can 289 00:16:03,460 --> 00:16:07,479 Speaker 1: imagine if the poor suddenly decides to escape, the only 290 00:16:07,489 --> 00:16:09,830 Speaker 1: chance of escaping is through the village and there are 291 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,460 Speaker 1: a lot of Children in that village, you know, just 292 00:16:12,469 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 1: playing around, oblivious to what's going on. And then so 293 00:16:16,330 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: it can be very, very dangerous for the local population 294 00:16:19,090 --> 00:16:23,690 Speaker 1: as well. Absolutely. Fascinating insight into this sport. It's still 295 00:16:23,700 --> 00:16:26,559 Speaker 1: not my thing, but I have a much better appreciation 296 00:16:26,570 --> 00:16:27,750 Speaker 1: for it. Thanks so much. 297 00:16:29,270 --> 00:16:32,489 Speaker 1: A reminder that the TV episodes of CN A correspondent 298 00:16:32,500 --> 00:16:35,919 Speaker 1: air every Wednesday at 930 pm, Singapore Hong Kong time. 299 00:16:36,030 --> 00:16:39,270 Speaker 1: And you can watch Neville's report on wild boar hunting 300 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,909 Speaker 1: on youtube and it's also on CN A dot Asia. 301 00:16:42,450 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: The team behind this week's episode is Sa N Clara 302 00:16:45,530 --> 00:16:49,450 Speaker 1: Ong Christina Robert Craig Dale and myself, Teresa Tang. Thanks 303 00:16:49,460 --> 00:16:50,479 Speaker 1: for joining us this week.