Semende people protect wild cats to prevent rice crop pests

The Semende people in Muara Enim Regency, South Sumatra, maintain a traditional farming system that preserves local wildlife to protect their rice crops.

Malai Ibrahim, a traditional leader in Cahaya Alam Village, explains that the community follows Adat Tunggu Tubang, a custom that treats rice fields as sacred heritage. Under these rules, families keep their fields and prioritize the harvest for household food. Because the village sits near mountain protected forests, humans and wild animals live in close proximity.

The community views the golden cat and the leopard cat as family members because these predators keep rodent populations in check. The golden cat and the leopard cat coexist in the area by utilizing different hunting patterns. The golden cat hunts during the day and at twilight, while the leopard cat is nocturnal and prefers dense forest canopies. These cats hunt rodents and birds that gather near the fields as the rice begins to turn yellow before harvest.

This natural balance helps the Semende people avoid large pest attacks and crop failures.