Jambi, Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Wild boar hunting tradition in Kerinci district can be turned into another tour package in Jambi province, Jambi branch of Indonesian Tourist Guide Associations spokesman Guntur said here on Friday.

Guntur said the wild boar hunting tradition among the farmers in Kerinci district, Jambi province, was very unique and distinctive and therefore it could be offered to tourists.

For the local farmers, wild boars are exotic pests that can never be destroyed because of their rapid proliferation.

Therefore the hunting tradition has been a long lasting activity, and periodically the local farmers conduct it once a week every Friday in the fields, bushes, and forests to destroy the wild boars.

With their beagle dogs, the farmers usually hunt the wild boars in traditional way with traditional weapons such as barbed spears, javelins, long machetes, and bows instead of using fire guns, toxic pest, and anesthetics.

The farmers hunt the wild boars every Friday as part of adrenaline sports and competition, and also as a means of social interaction among the individual community.

Each hunting event is always initiated by the Indonesian Boar Hunting Sport Association (PORBI).

The Indonesian Boar Hunting Sport Association holds the boar hunting events in Kerinci periodically, but but due to the large number of animals they need to be held more frequently.

"Such events can attract tourists, and therefore the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) is expected to turn the unique boar hunting tradition into an interesting tour package," Guntur said.

He said that if the hunting tradition was managed properly and professionally, it would have a positive impact on tourism in Kerinci district in particular and in Jambi province in general.

(SYS/O001/F001)

Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011