Indonesia is now the only country in the world where the critically endangered Sumatran tiger survives. The tigers were once found on Java and Bali as well, but now exist only on the island of Sumatra.

Beyond the beaches of Bali and the urban bustle of Jakarta, Indonesia is also the only country on earth where this elusive tiger still lives. The critically endangered cats roam Kerinci Seblat National Park and other protected forests.

A trip to Sumatra is not only about seeing wildlife: it also offers trekking in dense forests listed as world heritage, volcanic landscapes and hidden waterfalls.

According to the 2018 IUCN Red List, there are fewer than 400 adult Sumatran tigers in the wild. They live in fragmented forests where poaching, illegal logging, agricultural expansion and new infrastructure are putting pressure on their survival.

Under the recent nationwide Sumatra-Wide Tiger Survey, more than 15,000 square kilometres of Kerinci Seblat National Park and its surroundings were surveyed. The survey found that the presence of tigers had increased significantly.

An analysis carried out in 2020 found about 128 Sumatran tigers in the park and neighbouring areas, of which 119 live inside Kerinci Seblat National Park or within its boundaries. Conservationists say that if this habitat is protected and threats are brought under control, the area can support 144 to 150 tigers.

The Sumatran tiger is Indonesia's last surviving tiger subspecies, and its future is at risk. Protected areas such as Kerinci Seblat are its last refuge, but long-term survival will need monitoring, strict action against poaching and effective steps to reduce human pressure on the environment.

This report is based on the Times of India.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.