Project to protect Sumatran tigers

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: The British Tiger Foundation International, the Tiger Foundation Asia and Taman Safari Indonesia have initiated a project which aims to save Sumatran tigers from extinction.

The Tiger Project's initial activities consist of collecting data on the tiger population and their habitat, chief of the Agency for Conservation of Natural Resources Harjanto WS said yesterday.

The experts in charge have installed sophisticated cameras in locations they believe are the animals' regular paths, Antara reported.

Harjanto said encroachment by the human population is the biggest threat to the animals, which are protected by law. The tigers will soon become extinct unless they are bred, especially in their original habitat.

The agency estimates that the number of Sumatran tigers in the Way Kambas National Park is about 20. (pan)