Sumatran Tiger 101: Reducing Retaliatory Killing of Tigers
Conflict between human and Sumatran tigers in West Sumatra is among the highest in Sumatra, which usually culminates in negative perceptions of tigers and poaching of the species. However, hope is still there. Most villagers in our project sites are Minang, the West Sumatra’s native tribe. Traditionally the Minang respect tigers as they believe tigers have feelings and help guard the villages from bad matters. They are mostly subsistence farmers largely dependent on the harvests of their main cash crops and livestock.
PBNF fund Our main goal is, therefore, to reduce numbers of tigers killed. With science-based and socially conscious solutions, we expect to develop a standardized and site-specific operating procedure for communities experiencing human-tiger conflict. This will prevent poaching while changing local perceptions of tigers.
Our objective is, therefore, to work with provincial governments, universities, and West Sumatran tribes to protect the tiger population in the region by:
- Reducing retaliatory killing of tigers in target landscapes by 80%.
- Reducing livestock depredations in 10 target villages in human-tiger conflict hotspots by 60%.
- Formulating best practices in tiger management in human-dominated landscapes.
