Critically endangered wildlife, including some of the last Sumatran tigers as well as rhinos, bears and eagles, could be wiped out if plans go ahead to construct a major road through an Indonesian tropical forest reserve currently being restored by British conservationists.
The road would compromise the Harapan rainforest irreparably and unjustly and is entirely unnecessary. Alternative routes for coal transport are available which use existing wide roads. These alternative routes would are no greater distance to travel than the route of the proposed new road.
"It is so rich in wildlife that it can be described as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. Animals found in the forest include the Sumatran tiger, Sumatran elephant, otters, porcupines, bears and turtles".
The coal road is expected to be more than 50m wide. It would allow hunters and illegal loggers access to the forest and restrict the movement of the animals.
According to a survey from 'Traffic', the global wildlife trade monitoring network, poaching is responsible for more than 78% of estimated Sumatran tiger deaths, consisting of about 40 animals per year. The Sumatran tiger was classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2008 when its population was estimated at fewer than 680 individuals.
The Sumatran tiger is the only surviving member of a group of tigers that included the now extinct Bali tiger and Javan tiger. It needs large joined-up forest blocks to thrive. It now lives in isolated populations, its habitat having been drastically reduced by clearings. Habitat destruction forces the tigers into settled areas in search of food, where they are more likely to come into contact with people.
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