Sumatran Tiger: Extinction of the Charismatic Animal

The forests of Sumatera were once the arena of the King of Jungle in his glory days. Its roar echoing though the skies of the Sumatera, a trace that the forest was still alive. But nowadays, the growl is getting further and further away. Its roar was increasingly getting rare. The Sumatran Tiger, the only subspecies of tiger remaining in Indonesia, now fights inevitable extinction. The question is, what does the Sumatran Tiger mean to Indonesia?

According to a report from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK, 2024), the population of Sumatran Tigers is estimated to be no more than 400 in the wild. This verity puts them in a state of crisis, threatened with extinction. In fact, a hundred years ago, there were thousands of them. Even more tragically, the Bali Tiger and Javan Tiger, which are its relatives, were declared extinct in the 20th century. Nowadays, the Sumatran Tiger is the only tiger species in Indonesia, the Indonesia's last hope of having tigers as part of its biodiversity.

The threat the Sumatran Tiger face is no longer a number in a research report, it's a factuality on the field. The forests that once their home perished as a result of massive deforestation for palm oil plantations and mining. Ruination of habitat forces tiger to approach human settlements, outcoming in conflict with them. Humans considered tigers as a threat, many people hunt or springe them. Not only that, but illegal hunting also remains an unhealed wound. Tigers are still traded on the black market at high prices. Tragically, animals that should be protected have instead become commodities.

Heartbreaking stories are often reported. In 2023, a tiger was found dead in Southern Aceh with a wire snare around its neck. Another heartbreaking news, in Hutan Tanaman Rakyat, Bungo Pandan, Kabupaten Tebo, Jambi, in 2025, a male tiger died after getting trapped in a steel for 3-4 days. Its condition was critical and died before medical personnel could save it. Each piece of news like this signifies that we are not only losing an animal but losing the very soul of the forest itself. And every time we cut down trees for land conversion, we also cut down the tigers' territory.

The Sumatran Tiger is a cultural symbol. It's not just about preserving endangered animals. Tigers are depicted as guardians of the forest, symbols of strength, and sacred creatures that are revered in several local mythologies. On the other hand, tigers are apex predator. Their existence maintains the balance of nature. If the tiger population declines, the ecosystem will be disrupted.

So, what can we do to save them? Of course, saving the Sumatran Tiger is not an easy task. But that doesn't mean it's impossible to do. We need legal regulations that emphasize the protection of endangered species. The law must be enforced more arrantly regarding penalties for poachers, habitat destruction, and animal trafficking. Natural habitats must be preserved so that animals have a safe place to live. Educating the public is also required to raise awareness that endangered animals such as Sumatran Tigers are not threatening creatures, but rather an origin of national pride.

The Sumatran Tiger is not only merely a charismatic animal, but a reflection of the balance of the ecosystem that holds human life. If tigers truly disappear, we will lose the only tiger species in Indonesia, as well as the tale of the magnificent wilderness with its roars. Protecting tigers is no longer just a matter of conversation, but a moral commitment and generational responsibility. We can let the King of the Jungle to remain merely a character in legends, or we can ensure that his roar echoes across the skies of Sumatera. The choice is ours.