Sumatran tiger on the Verge of Extinction

  • by: Natalia D
  • recipient: President Widodo of Indonesia

The Sumatran tiger is a critically endangered species with a population of 400-500 left on this planet. This big cat, also known as the Panthera Tigris Sumatrae, can be between 165 and 308 pounds. The tiger has a vivid orange coat with thick black stripes that tend to be thicker than most types of tigers have. This specific species lives within evergreen forests, freshwater swamp forests, and swamps that happen to be within the boundaries of Indonesia. The Sumatran tiger is used as an indicator as to where the forests of Indonesia are thriving or dying. The Sumatran tiger has become an endangered species over time due to deforestation caused by palm oil collections. The deforestation has led to prey of the tiger falling to low levels as well as the tigers own population. The prey and predator species population, in this case the tiger and its prey population, correlate in numbers. The population of the tiger has declined due to poaching and uses of tiger products as well. Overall, the Indonesian President must create new policies to protect the species before it falls off the face of the Earth.
The forests of Indonesia, the habitat to the Sumatran tiger, happen to be the forests where palm oil is being collected. The root of palm oil collection happens to lead to the accelerating deforestation and the decline of prey for the species. The Indonesian forest has allowed for many problems to occur, one which includes one of the biggest Animalia species being affected by the declination of its population, which has proven to be important in keeping balance within the forests of this land. By allowing people to walk into the forest and destroy it simply for palm oil has affected the population of Animalia within the forest dramatically. The overall numbers of Animalia in the Indonesian forest have been affected by people who have set foot within the forest, which results in low food sources for they prey of bigger predator animals. Without prey and food sources the top predators in the forests food chain will not survive. By giving up the forest for palm oil collection, it has resulted in habitat destruction of the prey such as wild boar, deer, goat, and cattle and has caused habitat destruction as well for the tiger species. Palm oil is used in products of the United States. Consumers have only heightened the need for palm oil leading to deforestation rising to new levels, dropping animal population levels to new lows. Palm oil has been one of the biggest causes the Sumatran tiger to fall to only 400-500 left. The palm oil industry should regulate strongly by granting the ability to grow and collect as well while paying attention to the species they have hurt dramatically. To do so land laws should be created to where only certain people, companies, facilities are allowed to collect palm oil. In order to one of the few that can collect, you must also keep in mind the idea of balance and grow while still collecting as well as think about what animal species you are potentially harming or helping. Another factor that could help extremely would be to allow only a certain amount of palm oil to be taken per year since the demand for the palm oil only grows.
Poaching within the Indonesian forests has also led to the decline of the Sumatran tiger. Poaching has become an issue due to the selling of tiger parts and products in the lands of Indonesia, parts of England such as Liverpool, and many areas of China. Markets within Indonesia's borders have allowed the production and selling of tiger parts to those who have a need or want for these exotic products. Poaching even now is illegal, but still happens an extreme amount today due to demand for animal products and parts, and the idea that certain animals are seen as trophies. Tigers are one animal that is illegal to kill or trade for the benefit of the hunter, but these cases happen to appear a lot without being attended to. In many cases, the animal is seen as an object and that seems to justify its death before the court. Many people have gone unpunished for their actions when it comes to poaching simply because the government of Indonesia will turn a blind eye. They will turn a blind eye because the selling and production of these products leads to more money for the Land of Indonesia and those who have resided there. Poaching and Palm oil collection has allowed the people of Indonesia to gain jobs and make money by doing so. Poaching is another reason for the decline of the tiger and the reason for the low levels of habitat they absolutely need. Poaching affects habitat rates by human interaction destroying habitat and animal homes in order to hunt the animal. Habitat rates are also low due to animals having to migrate when prey or food resources being scarce or gone completely. Poaching must be strongly regulated even more so than it is now through implementation of more animal or environment officers. Another way could be border patrol questioning and authorizing only those individuals that will follow the land regulations. These programs must be in full effect to help the species survive.
By regulating or getting rid of poaching and lowering the collection of palm oil, we will help tremendously in saving the Sumatran tiger. The Sumatran tiger's disappearance will change the ecosystem and lifestyle the forest has at this very moment. Once the tiger has disappeared, its prey will flourish resulting in too many of each, which will then cause vegetation levels to drop. The tiger is essential in keeping balance in the food chain. The tiger also keeps a stable ecosystem by being top predator in these lands keeping a balance in predator and prey. The tigers disappearance will result in a drastic change to the already developed ecosystem and setting. Once these tigers have vanished, the Indonesian lands will no longer be the only place possessing the very few Sumatran tigers left. The tigers bring rich importance to the land and by getting rid of these tigers you are losing a valuable asset to the lands. By losing the Sumatran tiger we could lose a lot more than we had imagined.

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