Sumatran Tigers - Research Paper Example

28 November, Sumatran Tigers Sumatran tiger, also known as Panthera tigris sumatrae, is found only in the tropical forests of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the Sumatran tiger as ‘critically endangered’, which is the highest category of threat (Linkie, Wibisono, Martyr & Sunarto). According to the IUCN, the current population of the Sumatran tiger is around 176 to 271 mature tigers with subpopulations having less than 50 members - a number that is gradually decreasing (Linkie, Wibisono, Martyr & Sunarto). The World Wildlife Fund records that tigers were once present in Bali and Java as well, but extensive deforestation and increase in poaching in the country has caused these tigers to be wiped out of these regions. The Sumatran tigers also seem to follow the same path. Increasing deforestation and poaching have caused the population of Sumatran tigers to decline steadily and therefore intergovernmental partnerships and stringent policies have to be implemented to conserve these animals. Physical Description Sumatran tigers are the smallest among the tiger subspecies. They grow to a length of about 250 centimeters with males weighing about 100 to 140 pounds and female weighting about 75 to 110 pounds (World Wildlife Fund). The small size of the Sumatran tigers helps them to move easily and quickly through the Indonesian jungle. The heavy black stripes on an orange background are narrower than the other tiger species and help them to blend in with the tall grass, which is their natural habitat. The Sumatran tiger also has webbings between their toes which help them to swim well in the water especially while chasing their prey. They commonly eat animals like the wild boar, deer, fowl, monkeys and fish. Major Threats to the Sumatran Tigers There are two major factors that have caused the Sumatran tigers to become critically endangered – agricultural growth and increased poaching. Sumatra has undergone extensive deforestation as a result of agricultural growth, especially in the production of palm oil (Shepherd & Magnus 6). This has caused the tiger habitats to become limited to the Kerinci Seblat and Gunung Leuser national parks and some unprotected areas. Again, tigers that live in unprotected areas are at increased risk of poaching and killing as they frequently enter nearby villages in search of food. Since the 1990s, Sumatran tigers have been hunted for their bones which is an important ingredient in traditional Asian medicines especially to treat rheumatism (Shepherd & Magnus 15). Tiger bones and other products of the tiger are also used in magical practices that are conducted in Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia. These products are used as “ingredients for prescriptions or as amulets to ward off evil spirits” (Shepherd & Magnus 11). In fact, Indonesia has been identified as the major supplier of tiger bones and other tiger products from 1975 to 1992 in the South Korean Customs import records (Shepherd & Magnus 37). The skins and bones of Sumatra tigers are also exported internationally. Tiger teeth and claws are also used to custom design gold pendants to cater to international tourists. Tiger skins and stuffed tigers are also in great demand in the domestic market with policemen, army personnel, government officials and business men as the primary customers (Shepherd & Magnus 38). Investigations have also revealed that some individuals are also involved in selling these tigers to the zoo and private collections both in the domestic and international markets. It is common practice for junior officers in the police or military to present tiger skins to their superiors to attain their favor and be promoted to a higher rank. Tiger skins are also given as “gifts by businessmen to help close a business deal” (Shepherd & Magnus 17). Having tiger skins or live tigers is also considered a mark of prestige in the Indonesian culture. Issues Concerning Sumatran Tigers Following are some issues that have directly or indirectly affected the Sumatran tigers: 1. The Indonesian government has instituted tough rules that include jail time and high fines in an effort to protect the Sumatran tigers. However, there is still a large market for tiger products in Sumatra. According to a survey conducted in 2002, nearly 25% of the shops and dealers surveyed had tiger products for sale which included canines, claws, skin and bones, all of which are sold secretly to the customers (Shepherd & Magnus 62). 2. Investigations have found that Sumatran tigers are usually killed by professional or semi-professional hunters who work individually or as a small group (Shepherd & Magnus 67). They typically use cheap and simple wire cable leg-hold snares for hunting these tigers. Sometimes, these traps are set to catch other animals and the tiger gets killed by accident. Research has reveled that at least four Sumatran tigers are killed every year in such accidents and its parts are then sold in the market (Shepherd & Magnus 68). 3. Sumatran tigers have been killed or wounded by humans as they frequently prey on domestic animals. Villagers often kill these tigers instead of contacting the Forestry department to trap and remove the tiger from the region (Shepherd & Magnus 68). 4. In spite of the conservation efforts, Sumatran tigers are killed in large numbers for commercial gain. According to a recent investigation, poachers have been found to hunt the tigers from deep inside the tiger sanctuaries (Shepherd & Magnus 68). The bones and other parts of the Sumatran tigers are smuggled out of Indonesia and sold to countries like Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and China (Shepherd & Magnus 69). 5. Lack of political interest and widespread corruption are also important factor that affect the reduction in the population of the Sumatran tigers. 6. Extensive illegal logging and timber harvest in Sumatra has also resulted in significant loss of habitat of the Sumatran tigers. Current Conservation Efforts Currently there are a few organizations that are involved in the conservation of the Sumatran tigers. In 2006, the foundations of the Senepis Buluhala Tiger Sanctuary was established by the joint effort of the Indonesian Forestry Service, Natural Resources and Conservational Agency, Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program, Commercial concession holders and Asia Pulp and Paper (Sumatran Tiger Trust). The Senepis Buluhala Tiger Sanctuary has an area of 106,000 hectares and in located in the province of Riau. The current focus is to determine the feeding behaviors of the tigers and develop strategies to protect both the tigers and human settlements (Sumatran Tiger Trust). In 2007, the Indonesian Forestry Ministry and Safari Park and the Australian Zoo joined forces to work towards the conservation of Sumatran Tigers and other endangered species (Sumatran Tiger Trust). This program also focuses on reducing the conflicts between tigers and humans and keeping the tigers in their natural habitat. Recommendations to Save Sumatran Tigers With the decrease in the natural habitat of the Sumatran tigers and the booming market for tiger products, effective policies need to be developed in order to address this issue. Following are some recommendations to save the Sumatran Tigers: 1. Indonesian government should impose strict laws that ban the trade of tiger products both within the country and internationally. This should help in reducing the issue concerning poaching of the Sumatran Tigers (Shepherd & Magnus 70). 2. The Indonesian government should also control the harvest of timber and illegal logging within the country and focus on land conservation (Shepherd & Magnus 70). 3. Proper systems should be implemented to handle the instances when tigers enter areas inhabited by humans so that the safety of the people can be assured and the tigers are also protected. Such tigers should not be killed but returned to the wild or transferred to a zoo. 4. Support from the international community should be sought to decrease the use of tiger products as a symbol of luxury and extensive effort should be taken to increase the awareness and importance of conserving the Sumatran Tigers (Shepherd & Magnus 70). 5. Integrate the efforts of the local people, forest police, police, armed forces, justice department, criminal courts, non governmental organizations and the media in fighting against poaching and trading in the Sumatran tigers (Shepherd & Magnus 70). 6. Various interest groups should work together towards conserving the Sumatran tigers. This will help to develop a centralized database to track the tigers and improve the monitoring, collection and sharing of data regarding the Sumatran tigers. Conclusion In conclusion, the Sumatran tigers are critically endangered species and their numbers are steadily decreasing. Although there are several policies that have been established and few organizations have been working to address this issue, a lot more needs to be done in order to stop the poaching and killing of this animal. Creating awareness, implementing strict policies and developing international partnerships is therefore very important to address this issue. Works Cited Linkie, Wibisono, Martyr and Sunarto. Panthera tigris ssp. Sumatrae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Web. 23 Nov. 2011. < http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/ redlist/details/15966/0> Shepherd, Chris, and Magnus, Nolan. Nowhere to Hide: The Trade in Sumatran Tiger. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, 2004. Print. Sumatran Tiger Trust. Senepis Buluhala. 27 Nov. 2011. Web. 27 Nov. 2011. The World Wildlife Fund. Sumatran Tiger: The Last Indonesian Tiger Still Holding On. 2011. Web. 24 Nov 2011. http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/ sumatrantiger/sumatrantiger.html Read More