Two Sunda tiger cubs. Source: worldwildlife.org.
The Sunda tiger is a tiger subspecies that once populated several of the Sunda Islands in Indonesia. However, as a result of rampant deforestation and unchecked poaching, there are estimated to be less than 400 Sunda tigers remaining, and all are on the island of Sumatra. How did this species first become endangered?
The greatest and most enduring threat to the Sunda tigers is poaching, a practice that dates back centuries. Hunters trap or shoot tigers for their skin, bones, and canine teeth, all of which are sought after as status symbols or as ingredients for traditional East-Asian medicine. In 2006, wildlife markets were surveyed in locations scattered across seven Sumatran provinces; 33 of the 326 locations were found to offer tiger goods, with tiger bones going for the highest average price of 116 USD per kilogram. Despite efforts by various conservation groups and steep fines and jail time from the Indonesian Government, illegal poaching continues to fuel a multi-million-dollar tiger part industry in Asia, particularly in China.
The secondary threat to the tigers is deforestation and habitat loss. The expansion of palm oil, coffee, and acacia plantations has drastically reduced Sunda tiger habitats in recent years, forcing the tigers into smaller areas and at times into contact with humans. Unlike its efforts against poaching, the Indonesian Government is not explicitly combatting this threat; there has even been a governmental initiative encouraging an increase in tree-crop plantations and commercial logging.
Fortunately, in the face of this crisis, serious conservation efforts have been made in the past two decades. The Fauna and Flora International (FFI) has been conserving tigers and other endangered species in three key Sumatran locations: Aceh, Riau, and Kerinci National Park. Together, these three areas hold over 60% of all wild Sunda tigers. Between 2005 and 2015, over $210 million have been invested in tiger law enforcement activities. These efforts against poaching have led to some population stability in various locations, especially in Kerinci National Park, which holds an estimated 150 of the 400 remaining Sunda tigers. Although the battle is nowhere near won, as the Sunda tigers still hold a critically endangered status according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the recently dedicated conservation efforts have paved the way for some hope of recovery for these magnificent creatures.
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