Conserving Sumatran tigers in Kerinci Seblat National Park

Of the estimated 600 Sumatran tigers surviving in the wild, over 150 are found in and around Kerinci Seblat National Park – part of a World Heritage site. Since 2000, FFI has been working with the park authorities and local communities to strengthen tiger protection through forest patrols, undercover investigations and law enforcement operations to combat illegal trafficking of tigers and tiger parts. The work of the tiger protection units has led to the successful prosecution of dozens of poachers and traders. The team also conducts human-wildlife conflict mitigation, responds to wildlife emergencies and works to secure key tiger habitat in and around the park.

Following years of unprecedented pressure from organised illegal wildlife trade syndicates, there is growing evidence that the poaching threat is reducing, while tiger populations are stable in the project’s focus areas. FFI is also helping the park authorities and a specialist team to monitor Sumatran tigers and their prey, and mentoring park staff to build their biodiversity monitoring skills.

We are grateful for financial support from the UK government’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, the Wildcats Conservation Alliance, the United Nations Development Programme’s Global Environment Finance (UNDP-GEF) Unit, the IUCN and KfW.