Singapore, Oct 24 (PTI) The population of Sumatran tigers- a critically endangered species found only on the Indonesianisland of Sumatra - may have increased despite living in athreatened UNESCO World Heritage Site, a study suggests.
The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the onlyextant sub-species of 'Island tigers', which includes thenow-extinct Javan and Bali tiger.
This sub-species is genetically distinct from the othersix sub-species of continental tigers.
Researchers, including those from Wildlife ConservationSociety (WCS), set 123 camera traps over a 1,000 squarekilometre forest block located in a protection zone at theBukit Barisan Selatan National Park in Indonesia.
Results of the camera-trap study showed a Sumatran tigerpopulation density increase to 2.8 tigers per 100 squarekilometres in 2015 from 1.6 tigers in 2002.
Furthermore, the proportion of male and female tigersrecently recorded was 1:3.
"This ratio indicates that the tiger population in theNational Park is in a healthy condition and breedingopportunity exists for many females within the areas wesurveyed," said Wulan Pusparini, a Species ConservationSpecialist at WCS.
"Our study not only looks at population condition, butalso used the photographs to assess the threat of peopleillegally entering the park," said Pusparini.
"This increasing population trend in Sumatran tigers is adream come true for all conservationists in Indonesia," saidNoviar Andayani, WCS-Indonesia Country Director.
"I appreciate the work of the park authority and ourfield team for their efforts in not only protecting tigers andtheir habitat, but also collecting robust research data todemonstrate this trend and ensure that in the coming years,the UNESCO Tropical Heritage of Sumatra can be removed fromthe 'in danger list'," said Andayani.
Sumatran tigers face many challenges to their continuedexistence in the wild, where they require a home range of25,000 hectares.
These include being poached for their skin, bones andother body parts, involvement in conflict with people, adepleted prey base, and habitat loss. PTI MHNMHN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
