The Sumatran Tiger Project is a field-based study of wild tigers in Way Kambas National Park in south-eastern Sumatra run by Minnesota Zoo.
The project is based upon recommendations set forth in the Indonesian Sumatran Tiger Conservation Strategy, published in 1994 by the Indonesian Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHPA), Ministry of Forestry.
The field project is comprised of three components; tiger biology, community-based conservation education, and rapid assessment of all potential tiger protected areas in Sumatra. The objective of the field biology programme is to provide insights into the Sumatran tiger’s natural history that will lead to improved conservation management practices for wild tigers by PHPA.
The objective of the community-based conservation education programme is to address the critical human component of tiger conservation by better understanding human-tiger interactions. The objective of the Tiger Rapid Evaluation Team is to complete a Sumatra-wide census of wild tigers, their habitat or potential habitat, their prey, and the attitudes of local villagers.
The goal of the project is to provide information to PHPA so that a realistic management strategy can be developed to promote the long-term viability of wild tigers.
