Indonesia: Sumatran tiger population in Jambi keeps declining

Antara 8 Feb 11;

Jambi (ANTARA News) - The population of critically endangered Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris Sumatrae) in Jambi province keeps declining.

Jambi Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) spokesman Tri Siswo said here on Tuesday that as the result of poaching and destruction of wildlife habitats, the number of Sumatran tigers in the province was estimated at about 40 at present.

He said the remaining tigers were still threating the local people if being bothered.

According to Tri Siswo, poaching and deforestation activities were the biggest threat against the tigers which were increasingly pressed and eventually prey on humans.

Tri said the population of the tigers in Berbak National Park (TNB), Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS) and the southern area of the province continued to decline following human activities.

Meanwhile, the population of Sumatran tigers in Way Kambas National Park (TNWK), a large national park covering 1,300 square kilometers in Lampung province, also continued to decline.

According to the latest data issued by the TNWK recently showed that the number of the tigers in the park has dwindled to the brink of extinction.

Coordinator of the Sumatran Tiger Rescue and Conservation Foundation (PKHS) Sumianto said the current number of tigers found in Way Kambas National Park was estimated at less than 30, while in 2000 the population was about 40.

He added that if no serious efforts were made by the government to preserve the wildlife habitats, the Sumatran tigers will sooner or later become totally extinct.