A recent study published in the open-access journal “Scientific Reports,” under the Springer Nature umbrella, has unveiled some concerning findings about the conservation status of the critically endangered Sumatran tiger in the Ulu Masen ecosystem of Indonesia. The research, which took place from 2020 to 2022, utilized camera trap monitoring to identify just 11 individual Sumatran tigers in the area, with no cubs detected at all. The high ratio of male tigers observed raises alarms about severe poaching threats and underscores an urgent need for enhanced monitoring and targeted conservation efforts for this vulnerable species.
I had the opportunity to speak with Joe J. Figel, the lead author of the paper and a representative from the Leuser International Foundation in Indonesia. He explained that the Sumatran tiger is among the rarest subspecies, with only about 400 remaining in the wild. Disturbingly, more than 70% of these tigers inhabit unprotected areas, leading to a significant gap in population data. Though Ulu Masen is known as an important tiger habitat, it does not fall within a national park, resulting in insufficient surveys.
Figel detailed how the research team installed 52 camera traps over the two-year period to assess the status of Sumatran tigers and their prey, including deer, wild boar, and various antelopes. Out of the 6,732 recorded nights, tigers were spotted 39 times, allowing researchers to confirm the presence of 11 individual tigers—eight males, one female, and two of unknown sex. Notably, no cubs were recorded, and only three individuals were seen more than once. Alarmingly, one of the males was observed with three legs, but none of the tigers seen in 2020 were confirmed present in 2022. The study estimates that these tigers occupied about 52% of the study area, while larger prey such as deer were detected at 21 camera locations and antelopes at 48.
Despite the detection of 11 individuals suggesting a potential population, the absence of breeding females and the remarkably high turnover of individuals indicate an unhealthy population. Figel and his colleagues stressed that these signs point towards serious poaching activities.
To address these urgent issues, the authors recommend bolstering protection efforts in the region, including the deployment of 560 to 640 trained rangers. They also advocate for more comprehensive camera trap monitoring aimed at gender identification to gain a clearer understanding of tiger population dynamics in Ulu Masen.
