The Sumatran tiger, a subspecies of tiger endemic to the Indonesian island that gives it its name, is facing a crisis that threatens to make it extinct in the near future. With fewer than 400 individuals estimated in the wild, according to the latest reports from the IUCN, the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) es one of the most endangered felines on the planet. The protection and conservation of this subspecies is not only vital for global biodiversity, but also plays an essential role in the balance of ecosystems.
In response to the critical situation of Sumatran tigers, various organizations and governments have undertaken conservation projects to stop poaching, protect their natural habitat, and educate local communities about the importance of this species. And here, The Bioparc Foundation strengthens its commitment to the conservation of the Sumatran tiger in Indonesia, a species that it already protects at BIOPARC Fuengirola, joining forces with the French park Bioparc Conservation Doué la Fontaine and the Sumatran Tiger Conservation Foundation PKHS, an organization dedicated to protecting and conserving the population of this feline in its natural habitat.
Protection and surveillance of Sumatran tigers
The agreement establishes the development of joint actions in the field, such as anti-poaching patrols, habitat surveillance and education and awareness campaigns in local communities in Sumatra. In addition, along with these actions is the one of provide drinking water to the tiger population that live in Indonesia's Way Kambas National Park during the dry season.
During this season, the diminishing water sources and the scarcity of prey complicate the survival of these big cats. In addition, this period without rain intensifies the threat of forest fires, which can devastate large areas of forests, crucial habitat for tigers. These fires destroy vegetation and leave tigers and their prey without shelter or food resources, also affecting the surrounding biodiversity. Tigers are solitary animals and need large territories to survive, so habitat fragmentation and the loss of forest areas aggravate their vulnerability.
The agreement also includes the promotion of environmental education programs in communities near the reserves., which seek to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity and the need to preserve natural habitats.
These types of in situ projects complement the work of animal conservation parks around the world, such as BIOPARC Fuengirola, which also play a crucial role in establishing controlled breeding programmes that help ensure the survival of Sumatran tigers. In the face of increasing threats facing many species in the wild – such as ecosystem loss, poaching and climate change – these programmes offer a safe and stable “genetic reserve” that helps ensure the survival of these species in the future.
BIOPARC Fuengirola is one of the two parks that host this subspecies in Spain. Today at Bioparc Fuengirola you can see a pair of Sumatran tigers, Kerinci and Harau, specimens that are part of the EAZA European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) for this subspecies, in which the park has participated since 2002. Its work is carried out through three essential pillars: conservation, education and research.
