- The Kerinci Seblat National Park (KSNP) in Sumatra, spanning 1.386 million hectares, is a crucial sanctuary for 128 Sumatran tigers, making it the largest single population of Sunda island tigers in the world.
- The project team conducted 87 SMART forest patrols in KSNP, covering 1,128 km, with tiger presence recorded in 51% of cases and a significant reduction in active snares compared to pre-pandemic levels.
- Collaborating with local police, we achieved significant victories against illegal resource extraction, including the arrest of a poacher and the destruction of harmful equipment, while also reducing human-tiger conflicts through proactive community engagement.
Located in the heart of Sumatra, Indonesia, the Kerinci Seblat National Park (KSNP) spans an impressive 1.386 million hectares, providing a vital sanctuary for the Sumatran tiger. The central section and buffer-zone forests, covering approximately 350,000 hectares, form the primary focus of our conservation efforts. Recent surveys by the Fauna & Flora Kerinci Seblat Tiger Monitoring team have revealed promising data: KSNP and its surrounding forests are home to 128 Sumatran tigers, with 119 residing within the park itself. These findings highlight KSNP as the largest single tiger population in Sumatra, a testament to our conservation efforts over the past two decades.
Achievements (2023-2024)
The dedicated team hit the ground running, conducting 87 SMART forest foot patrols and covering an impressive 1,128 km. Despite a slight uptick in poaching threats, we’re thrilled to report that the rate of active snares found was significantly lower than before the pandemic. These patrols also recorded evidence of tiger presence in 51% of cases.
The camera traps, strategically placed around the Core Area of KSNP, have been instrumental in monitoring efforts beyond patrols. These cameras captured images of seven individual tigers, including a tigress first photographed back in 2010. Such sightings provide us with invaluable insights into tiger movement and population stability, helping us understand and protect these majestic creatures better.
On the human-tiger conflict front, we’ve seen a decrease in incidents, likely due to the recovery of wild boar populations previously hit hard by African Swine Fever. Nevertheless, the team has remained on the ground, responding to livestock predation incidents by providing mitigation strategies and counselling to the affected communities. This proactive approach has helped foster coexistence and reduce conflicts.
In collaboration with local police, the projects contribution to intelligence gathering have borne fruit. April 2023 saw a significant victory when a poacher was arrested and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his crimes. Additionally, the team have been actively targeting illegal gold mining operations within the park, leading to successful arrests and the destruction of environmentally damaging equipment.
Operating since 2000 under a partnership between Fauna & Flora Indonesia (FFI) and KSNP, project activities are governed by national and local agreements. A new multi-year agreement with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, pending formal approval, will ensure continued support and legal backing for our conservation initiatives.
Stay tuned for more updates on our journey to protect and conserve the Sumatran tiger. Your support and engagement are crucial to our continued success. Together, we can make a difference.
