Sumatran tiger under threat<\/p>\n
Jon Afrizal, Muko Muko, Bengkulu<\/p>\n
The population of the Sumatran tiger (panthera tigris
\nSumatraensis) in the forest of Muko Muko regency, Bengkulu
\nprovince, is progressively dwindling. If in the past decade the
\ntiger population numbered in the dozens, now fewer than 10 are
\nthought to remain due to rampant illegal logging and poaching,
\nwhich continue unabated. Only eight tigers are living in their
\nnatural habitat in the conservation forest managed by PT Agro
\nMuko, a private plantation company.<\/p>\n
There were only six tigers not long ago, aged in their teens
\nand measuring up to 1.5 meters in length. Their numbers rose to
\neight after two females gave birth to a cub each in the middle of
\nthe year. "There could be other tigers not accounted for,"
\ngeneral manager of PT Agro Muko, Yazid Ibrahim, told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
The wildlife habitat managed by PT Agro Muko was designated a
\nconservation area when the company was issued a forest concession
\nand began operations in 1988. The conservation area encompasses
\nseven locations of 2,235 hectares of the total 22,000 hectares of
\nforest concession for oil palm and rubber plantations.<\/p>\n
The Muko Muko forest preserve on is on the forests' western
\nflank and the Kerinci Seblat National Park on the eastern flank.<\/p>\n
Various species of trees can be found, such as the sungkai,
\npulai and mahogany, measuring more than 40 centimeters in
\ndiameter and reaching dozens of meters tall. The area is also
\nhome to a number of bird species, like the hornbill and
\nturtledove.<\/p>\n
The tigers depend totally on prey for food, such as the deer
\nand wild boar which abound in the area.<\/p>\n
The agricultural officer of PT Agro Muko, Sukardi, said
\nproblems such as poaching and illegal logging threatened the very
\nexistence of tigers in the area. At least two tigers are thought
\nto be killed in the conservation area each year for their body
\nparts, such as skin, teeth and whiskers. The latest poacher was
\narrested early this year.<\/p>\n
Besides rampant illegal logging in Tanahretak, which is
\nlocated outside the conservation area, the nearby freshwater
\nLebar Lake, measuring 65 hectares, in which crocodiles live, is
\nalso prone to environmental damage.<\/p>\n
"Illegal logging methods, such as digging water channels, has
\ngradually drained water from the lake," he said.<\/p>\n
He also said that logging activities in various locations had
\nled to conflict between man and tiger, with at least one attack
\non humans every year. No data is available on the exact number of
\nlives claimed.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sumatran-tiger-under-threat-1447893297",
"image": ""
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