Fate of Javanese tiger still not known

Fate of Javanese tiger still not known

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian conservationists are in a dilemma over the fate of the Javanese tiger, not knowing for certain whether the beast has actually become extinct or not.

A 30-person team from the East Java's Second Office of Natural Conservation sent out in December to track a Java tiger, known by its Latin name Panthera Tigris Sondaica, returned empty handed, failing to find even the smallest trace that it still exists.

The search was concentrated in the Meru Betiri National Park, about the only area which conservationists say has the ecology to support the existence of the tiger. The park is located in the Jember and Banyuwangi regencies.

In 1976, it was determined that there were only four or five Javanese tigers remaining. The last time one was spotted was in 1990.

Since then, there has been no indication as to whether the animal is still in existence or not, Sarkan Teniriadi, head of the office, told Antara yesterday.

To declare the animal extinct, conservationists need some evidence to support that claim, he said.

He proposed the launching of a major research operation, by local and international agencies which are concerned about the wild life, to determine the fate of the tiger.(emb)