Sumatran Tigers
Scientific Name: Panthera tigris sumatrae
Sumatran tigers are the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and are distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Today, the last of Indonesia’s tigers—now less than 400—are holding on for survival in the remaining patches of forests on the island of Sumatra. Across their range, tigers face unrelenting pressure from poaching, retaliatory killings and habitat loss. They are forced to compete for space with dense and often growing human populations. They are protected by law in Indonesia, with tough provisions for jail time and steep fines.
You can support organisations like WWF by buying things from their stores and downloading their apps, as well as educating yourself by going to their website.
You can support organisations like WWF by buying things from their stores and downloading their apps, as well as educating yourself by going to their website.
Some Quick Facts:
- Tigers are the largest big cats - the Sumatran is the smallest of the 5 sub-species
- Inhabits mountain or lowland forests and mangrove swamps with dense cover and access to water
- Often rests during the day and hunts at night, using sight and hearing to detect prey.
- Hunts large mammals by stalking and ambushing - the element of surprise! Also eats monkeys, birds, frogs and fish.
- Severely endangered by habitat loss, declining numbers of natural prey and poaching for body parts.
Sumatra - The Tigers Homeland
Sumatra is an island deep in the Indian Ocean. It is home to near constant rains and unpredictable wilderness. It also has smoking volcano craters that ring the hill town of Berastagi. Hunter-gatherer tribes still live in the jungles with ancient customs. This island is home to many animals including Orangutan, Sumatran rhino, Sumatran tiger and Sumatran elephant. Sumatra is the main home for Sumatran tigers as they are not in as much danger of habitat destruction here, but illegal wildlife trade is still and issue and oil palm plantations are threatening the tigers habitats.
Organisations like WWF are working with the people on Sumatra and other similar islands to find ways to protect the animals homes.
Organisations like WWF are working with the people on Sumatra and other similar islands to find ways to protect the animals homes.
They are working to educate people on illegal shipping of animals and materials.
WWF is creating a conservation plan with the governments of
Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia to protect the forests of
Sumatra and Borneo, particularly the Heart of Borneo - a pristine area of rain forests larger than Kansas.
Read
more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/indonesia/sumatra#ixzz2zwq9xfwn
http://worldwildlife.org/places/borneo-and-sumatra
WWF is creating a conservation plan with the governments of
Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia to protect the forests of
Sumatra and Borneo, particularly the Heart of Borneo - a pristine area of rain forests larger than Kansas.
Read
more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/indonesia/sumatra#ixzz2zwq9xfwn
http://worldwildlife.org/places/borneo-and-sumatra
Status of the Species
According to the government the Sumatran Tiger is Critically Endangered as there are less than 400 left in the wild.
My family thought that the tiger was only Endangered, but not yet Critically Endangered. Even my grandfather who is a forester did not believe them to be more than Endangered.
This just shows that more awareness needs to be raised.
My family thought that the tiger was only Endangered, but not yet Critically Endangered. Even my grandfather who is a forester did not believe them to be more than Endangered.
This just shows that more awareness needs to be raised.
By Holly