His services are in more demand with a rise in tiger attacks and human-tiger conflict in recent years, a result of deforestation and habitat loss. Sarwani deals with Sumatran tigers, which are critically endangered, with some 400 found in the world, according to the World Wildlife Fund.“Wherever the tiger is at that time, it will know that I am going to make an agreement with it.”
Sarwani Sabi stands next to the cage holding a sedated tiger caught with his help in June, 2020 in Aceh. It was later released into the wild. Photo courtesy of Istafan Najmi / Leuser Conservation Forum
Sarwani Sabi (lower right) stands next to a sedated tiger caught with his help in June, 2020 in Aceh. It was later released into the wild. Photo courtesy of Istafan Najmi / Leuser Conservation Forum
Sarwani (center) kneels on the ground in front of charred coconuts husks while performing a ritual to dispel tigers. Photo courtesy of Ruslan Sabi
Sarwani said he is trying to make a pact with a tiger by persuading it to never return to the village or the fields with crops, where most encounters and sightings occur.He said his record speaks for itself. In early March, Sarwani carried out a ritual in a remote village in East Aceh. Residents told him tigers have not been seen there since his visit.But he is not always successful.If the tiger does not obey his warning, then it must be caught and released into the wild separately with the assistance of authorities. Sarwani may sometimes be asked to speak to the tiger while it is in a cage to help keep it calm. One of these encounters was filmed last year and uploaded to YouTube where it has been viewed more than 11 million times.Sometimes, tigers are wounded or experience trauma when caught, after which they go through a period of recovery and rehabilitation before being released back into the wild. But Sarwani said this is “very rare.”“I have done tiger evictions in almost every village in Aceh Province. I don’t remember exactly how many times, but over a hundred times.”
A Sumatran tiger is trapped before being released into the wild. Photo courtesy of Ruslan Sabi