WWF, Greenpeace Indonesia save Sumatran tigers and elephants

Antara 30 Sep 11;

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is cooperating with Greenpeace in saving the Sumatran tigers ("Panthera tigris sumatrae") and elephants ("Elephas maximus sumatranus") in Tesso Nillo National Park, Pelalawan, Riau.

Chief of WWF Flaying Squad Training, Tesso Nillo National Park (TNTN), Syamsuardi said on Thursday, the two organizations wished to save the forest environment which is constantly facing deforestation by forest industrial companies in Riau.

"We have the same mission. We both want to save the Sumatran tigers initiated by Greenpeace and Elephants by WWF," he said.

According to the mission, Syamsuardi said the tigers and elephants have a close relationship, both are forest sacred guardians.

"Elephants and tigers have the same mobility in the forests, so they have a very close relationship. Greenpeace and WWF also have a close relationship, we both want to save their habitats," he said.

Syamsuardi said to save the tigers and elephants needs an awareness and strong will on the part of all parties to protect the forests as their habitat because many companies are ruining the forests in Riau.

"We have to stay aware because those companies are like cats in front of us, but once are not guarded they will strike again," he said.

On the other hand, Coordinator of Greenpeace Campaign Rusmadaya said Greenpeace and WWF could help each other to save the forests from deforestation by HTI enterprises.

"We are also proud of this cooperation and we would help each other to save our forests which are getting depleted day by day," he said.

Twenty members of Greenpeace visit WWF Flaying Squad Training, TNTN, Riau to support the mission of the two organizations.

"We are wearing tiger printed uniforms named "mata harimau" (tiger eyes) to promote our mission," said Rusmadaya.

In TNTN, Greenpeace members are introduced to the elephants are conserved in the national park, they also interact and washed the elephants.

After visiting TNTN, Greenpeace will visit Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park, Indragirihulu District of Riau Province, national parks in Jambi Province and national parks in Palembang, South Sumatra.(*)

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono