Hope for the resilient Sumatran tiger
22nd November 2011
A study of Indonesia's dense jungle has proved the resilience of the Sumatran tiger as it holds on to survival despite increasing degradation of its habitat
An in-depth study of the dense Indonesian jungle has proven the resilience of the Sumatran tiger, and identified new priorities for tiger conservation. The study has not only provided the most up-to-date and reliable information about the presence of the subspecies in the wild, but also suggests that long-term survival of the Sumatran tiger is a real possibility.
The three-year study, funded by eight NGOs and the Indonesian government, aimed to determine the presence of the elusive species, which is often difficult to spot because of its secretive behaviour and excellent camouflage.
Results of the study found that the Sumatran tiger was present in 70% of the 13,500 kilometres of forest surveyed, and two new priorities for tiger conservation were identified: the previously unsurveyed Leuser-Ulu Masen forest in Aceh Province, and Kerinci Seblat-Batang Hari forest. The study also found however, that in areas of extreme deforestation, such as forests in Riau Province, the Sumatran tiger was struggling.
Conservationists say it is vital for the Indonesian government to tackle threats to the newly identified conservation areas if the National Tiger Recovery plan, which aims to double the number of Sumatran tigers by 2022, is to be successful.
Despite decades of conservation efforts, the number of tigers in the wild continues to decline due to habitat loss, poaching, conflict with humans, and lack of prey. The endangered Sumatran tiger is the last of the tiger subspecies left in Indonesia, with the Bali and Javan tiger declared extinct.
Although there is no doubt as to the adverse effects of deforestation on the threatened subspecies, it seems as though the Sumatran tiger isn't going without a fight.
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