Today, there are just over 400 left. Sumatran tigers on freedom. This alarming figure reflects the critical point at which this unique subspecies of tiger, the last one surviving in Indonesia, finds itself., following the extinction of the Balinese and Javan tigers. On the occasion of International Tiger Day, celebrated on July 29, BIOPARC Fuengirola is issuing an urgent call to action: protect the Sumatran tiger now, or it will disappear forever.
The fight for the survival of these big cats is being fought on two fronts. On the one hand, in their natural habitat, where poaching, the destruction of tropical forests, and the scarcity of prey are putting them on the brink of collapse. On the other, in conservation parks committed to their future, such as BIOPARC Fuengirola, which has housed this subspecies for more than two decades within the framework of a European Conservation Plan (EEP), working to ensure that, when the time comes, it will be possible to reintroduce specimens into the wild.
Why is BIOPARC redoubling its efforts this year?
La BIOPARC Foundation has signed an international agreement with Bioparc Conservation Doué-la-Fontaine and the PKHS Foundation in Indonesia, establishing joint field actions: anti-hunting patrols, ecological monitoring, community awareness campaigns, and provision of drinking water during the dry season in Way Kambas National Park. Starting in 2024, these steps represent a decisive escalation in on-site conservation efforts—a direct response to the worsening demographic crisis of the Sumatran tiger.
Symbol of disappearing biodiversity
The Sumatran tiger is much more than an emblem of wildlife: it is a living reminder of everything that is at stake if tropical ecosystems continue to be destroyed. Considered “critically endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), their situation worsens year after year. Three subspecies of tiger have already become extinct in the last century, and the Sumatran tiger could be next.
BIOPARC Fuengirola: 20 years protecting the Sumatran tiger
BIOPARC Fuengirola is home to Kerinci and Harau, a stunning pair of Sumatran tigers. Both are part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), a collaborative network of top-tier zoos designed to ensure a healthy, stable, and genetically diverse population, capable of being reintroduced into the wild if circumstances permit.
In parallel, as indicated in the previous paragraphs, the Bioparc Foundation collaborates with in situ conservation projects on the island of Sumatra, supporting habitat protection, anti-poaching, and community education initiatives. Because only if the inhabitants of the area see the tiger as a valuable asset worth preserving, will there be hope.
Science, well-being and conservation: pillars of a possible future
The Zoology team at the Malaga animal park works daily to maintain their instincts, improve their daily well-being, and adapt their environment to closely mimic their natural habitat. The goal: for each specimen to be not only an ambassador for its species, but also a potential protagonist for a future reintroduction into the wild.
Every roar, every stride of these tigers at BIOPARC Fuengirola connects us with a disappearing world. But it also reminds us that we still have time to act.
On this International Tiger Day, the call is clear: Saving the Sumatran tiger is saving a part of our humanity.
