Indonesia's Sumatran tiger could be the first large predator to become extinct this century, unless poaching for body parts and illegal logging in the area are stopped. Today, the total population of Sumatran tigers left in the wild is estimated to be of only 400 to 500.
The number of tigers across the world has declined by 95% in the past century, and three subspecies have become extinct, including the two others native to Indonesia - the Bali tiger and the Java tiger, which was seen in the wild as late as the 1970s. With fewer than 400 of the creatures estimated to be left in the wild, the Sumatran tiger is classified as critically endangered, the most vulnerable of all the six surviving tiger subspecies.
Tigers are hunted for skins as well as body parts such as bones, which are ground up and used as traditional medicine in some areas of Asia. Another major pressure this species face is the illegal logging by paper companies, which has eliminated more than 1.2 million acres of tiger habitat since 1998 - at least four tigers, and nine people, have been killed in the past month alone, as the shrinking of Sumatra's already depleted forests brings an increase in attacks on farmers, hunters and illegal loggers.
Take action today! Sign the petition below and tell a friend.
Dear Didy Wurjanto,
I ask you to urgently increase enforcement efforts and implementation of laws to stop illegal logging and to ban trade of tiger parts and products, or extinction is near for the last of Sumatra's tigers.
I urge you to take action against the markets, trade hubs and retail outlets in Sumatra and also to call for a moratorium on clearing in Sumatra's lowland forests by multinational paper companies - The preservation of tiger reserves needs to be enforced with stiffer penalties for those who break the law.
Of the 8 species of tigers, only 5 are still in existence today. It would be a great tragedy if we couldn't show these beautiful animals to future generations - once they are gone, they will be gone forever. Please act now before the Sumatran tiger becomes extinct.
