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Researchers Warn Sumatran Tiger May
Disappear
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Image: NOLAN MAGNUS/TRAFFIC
SOUTHEAST ASIA
| Poaching
and illegal trade are forcing the last tiger species in Indonesia
toward extinction, a new report warns. The findings, compiled by the
wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC and the World Wildlife
Fund (WWF), indicate that 50 Sumatran tigers have been poached each
year between 1998 and 2002, leaving less than 500 of the creatures
in the wild.
Indonesia has already lost two tiger species: Javan tigers went
extinct in the 1980s, whereas Bali tigers lasted only until the
1930s. The Sumatran tiger is currently protected by law, but the
threat of fines and jail sentences is not enough to stop the
substantial trade in tiger parts, note Nolan Magnus and Chris R.
Shepard, the authors of the report. Many of the animal’s parts are
sold for use in traditional medicine, and their skins are highly
valued as well. Undercover investigations discovered tiger parts for
sale in 17 of 24 towns. Overall, 20 percent of the shops visited
sold tiger parts, particularly teeth and claws sold as charms or
decoration. "Increased and improved enforcement is the only thing
that is going to save Sumatran tigers," Shepard says. |
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| In addition to poaching, the animals are threatened
by loss of habitat. According to the report, just 8 percent of the
tiger’s habitat is protected, and logging and settlement have
limited its overall range to just a quarter of the island. "Tigers
all around the world are under threat from poaching, loss of habitat
and conflict with nearby human populations," says Susan Lieberman,
director of WWF’s international Species Program. "Now the Sumatran
tiger is on the brink of extinction. With so few left, there are
doubts about whether the population is still viable." --Sarah
Graham |
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