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Indonesia
Tiger Population Targeted to Double
Jakarta - The Indonesian government has finished the Indonesian Tiger Recovery Plan 2011 - 2022 manuscript which targets a 100 percent increase in Sumatran Tiger population in 11 year. The program is estimated to cost 175 million dollars and will be part of the Global Tiger Recovery Plan.
This was announced by the Director General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA) from the Ministry of Forestry, Darori, on Tuesday (6/7) in Jakarta. “On July 12 to 14, Indonesia will host the Pre-Tiger Summit Partners Dialogue Meeting which is attended by 13 wild tiger-owning countries. In the meeting, the Indonesian Tiger Recovery Plan will be discussed to be integrated in the Global Tiger Recovery Plan,” said Darori.
Darori said there is only an estimated 400 Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) left in the wild, while in zoos in Indonesia and other countries there are around 250 tigers.
“This is Indonesia’s last tiger subspecies. In the 1940s the Balinese tiger (Panthera tigris balica) became extinct. In the 1980s, the Java tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) became extinct. We can’t let Sumatran tigers also go extinct. We are optimistic that with the Indonesian Tiger Recovery Plan 2011-2022, tigers in the wild will reach 800 animals in 2022,” said Darori.
Director of Biodiversity Conservation of the Ministry of Forestry, Harry Santoso, explained the recovery plan is emphasized on in-site conservation or conservation of tigers in their natural habitat. In the Indonesian Tiger Recovery Plan, six of the most important natural landscapes for tiger were selected. The landscapes are Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park, Kerumutan National Park, Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, Rejang Selatan, and Ulu Masen.
“There are 18 natural landscapes serving as Sumatran tiger habitats. But, these six landscapes are the most important as 70 percent of the total Sumatran tiger habitat is included in them. The Indonesian Tiger Recovery Plan will be discussed in the Pre-Tiger Summit Partners Dialogue Meeting. From this meeting in Bali, hopefully there will be commitment for global funding. Currently the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation only has an annual budget of 15 billion rupiahs for the conservation of all wild animal species. There is no special allocation for tigers,” said Harry.
Forest and Biocarbon Coordinator of Fauna and Flora Interantiona, Andjar Rafiastanto hopes the Pre-Tiger Summit Partners Dialogue Meeting will have a resolution illegal tiger trade. “We have to build commitment in all member countries to prevent tiger smuggling. Until now China is still a consumer of tigers smuggled through Singapore and Hong Kong,” said Andjar.
T Haryo Wibisono from Harimau Kita Forum said Sumatran Tigers have lost many of its natural habitat and 70 percent of natural habitats have not been classified as conservation areas. “But we must learn from the extinction of Balinese and Javan tigers. Forests remaining in Bali and Java could not prevent the extinction of tigers. In short term, we must prioritize the Sumatran tiger protection,” he said. (ROW)
Source : Kompas