The Sumatran Tiger, an Endangered Species

The Smallest Tiger Sub-Species Should Not be the Least Significant

Sep 28, 2009

Sumatran tigers live, hunt, eat, sleep, and stay isolated on one Indonesian island. Each year that passes, humans take more of their habitat, and fewer tigers remain.

With the extinction of Bali, Javan and Caspian tigers and the seemingly inevitable demise of South China tigers, only Siberian tigers rank as few in numbers as Sumatran tigers. However, the Siberian tiger population has stabilized, while Sumatran tigers are on the decline. Can further conservation efforts halt this critically endangered sub-species' deadly downward slide into extinction?

What is a Sumatran Tiger?

The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest tiger sub-species, although the Malayan tiger is close in size. Males reach up to 8 feet long from head to tail and average 265 lbs., while females reach seven feet long and weigh approximately 200 lbs. Like all tigers, Sumatran tigers have retractable claws, padded feet, strong jaws, and large canines. Their tails are nearly three feet long.

Sumatran tigers, particularly males, have more fur on their necks, cheeks, and chin than other tiger sub-species. The hair resembles beards and manes. Its coat is orange to reddish-orange to brownish-orange. Their stripes are narrower and more numerous than other sub-species, likely an adaptation to their grassland habitat. Sumatran tigers have white undersides. Their toes are webbed, making them excellent swimmers.

Sumatran tigers live in solitude, except for cub-rearing mothers and their cubs. Males will allow other males to pass through their territories but will not tolerate loiterers. These tigers live approximately 15 years in the wild.

Where Do Sumatran Tigers Live?

As their name implies, Sumatran tigers are found exclusively on the western Indonesian island of Sumatra. Highly adaptable animals, these tigers can be found at both low and high altitudes and in diverse habitation. Per the World Wildlife Federation (WWF), Sumatran tigers "inhabit montane forests, the remaining blocks of the island's lowland forest, and peat swamps," as well as freshwater swamp forests. The largest population, approximately 110 tigers, can be found in Gunung Leuser National Park, according to Honoluluzoo.org.

What Do Sumatran Tigers Eat?

Sumatran tigers are nocturnal hunters. Their kills may come as seldom as once a week, so when they do feed, they feast. Prey consists mostly of large mammals, such as various species of deer, wild boar, tapir, and cattle. They may also feed on smaller mammals (e.g., monkeys), birds, and fish.

Why are Sumatran Tigers Endangered?

According to the WWF, the Sumatran tiger population may be fewer than 400. Others have given the sub-species lower estimates. Nevertheless, all agree that more than half have disappeared since a 1978 census estimated their numbers at 1,000, leaving Sumatran tigers critically endangered.

Why? Deforestation ranks high amongst threats to Sumatran tigers. Sumatra's increasing agricultural development and extensive logging over the last several decades has usurped the island's lush forests for human use. As a result, says the WWF, "there is little to no interchange and gene flow between the separated tiger populations." Reserves are isolated and fragmented. Prey is depleted. Per the WWF, approximately "67,000 km² of forest was lost in Sumatra from 1985 to 1997, most of this being lowland rainforest, and the annual rate of forest loss has been increasing across Indonesia."

Likewise, poaching is a serious problem. All tiger sub-species have been hunted since ancient times. Per the WWF, "tigers are poisoned, shot, trapped and snared, and the majority of these animals are sought to meet the demands of a continuing illegal wildlife trade - which includes traditional Chinese medicine." Most Sumatran tigers are killed for commercial gain, and their parts are sold illegally in markets in Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, and China.

What can be Done to Protect Sumatran Tigers?

The WWF believes that preserving particular tiger habitats and creating tiger reserves are the best methods to preserving the species. The organization "aims to establish and manage effective tiger conservation areas, reduce the poaching of tigers and their prey, eliminate the trade in tiger parts and products, create incentives that will encourage local communities and others to support tiger conservation, and build capacity for tiger conservation."

For Sumatran tigers, reserves are simply not enough. Enforcement of anti-poaching laws is disturbingly lax in Sumatra. The WWF claims that there have only been four convictions for poaching since 1997. Per the WWF:

"The TRAFFIC survey of tigers killed in Sumatra indicates that poaching for trade is responsible for the vast majority (over 78%) of estimated tiger deaths, consisting of at least 40 animals per year and possibly higher."

The math is simple. Without strict penalties, more diligent enforcement of endangered species regulation, and habitat preservation, wild Sumatran tigers are not long for this earth.

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