In commemoration of Global Tiger Day on July 29, KKI WARSI calls for more serious protection of the increasingly threatened habitat of the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae). The Sumatran tiger is the only remaining tiger subspecies in Indonesia and is now in a critically alarming condition.
According to data from Forum Harimau Kita, the estimated number of Sumatran tigers left in the wild is fewer than 600 individuals. This puts the Sumatran tiger in the Critically Endangered (CR) category on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List. In other words, the species is on the brink of extinction unless concrete actions are taken to protect and restore its habitat.
Based on forest cover analysis by KKI WARSI, by the end of 2024, Jambi Province will have only 969,322 hectares of forest cover left—just 19.78 percent of its total land area. This figure falls far below the ideal threshold for ecological balance. According to various regulations prior to 2014, a region ideally maintains at least 30 percent forest cover to ensure ecosystem balance, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainability of ecosystem services such as clean water, air, and local climate regulation. In Jambi, much of the forest loss has occurred in lowland areas, which are key roaming corridors for tigers. This condition has also triggered increasing conflict between humans and tigers.
Adi Junedi, Executive Director of KKI WARSI, stated that the rise in human–tiger conflicts in recent years is not due to changes in tiger behavior, but rather because their living space continues to shrink.
“Tigers are guardians of the ecosystem and indicators of forest balance. When tigers start appearing in plantations, it signals that their roaming territory has shifted. Tigers are naturally consistent with their home range. When human activities intrude into their territory, conflict is inevitable,” said Adi Junedi.
He added that tigers must be given space—not just for the sake of the species itself, but for the future of ecosystems that sustain all life. As apex predators, tigers help control prey populations and prevent the overgrowth of certain species, such as wild boars. This plays a vital role in maintaining biodiversity. In conservation approaches, tigers are known as umbrella species—by protecting tigers, we are also protecting the entire ecosystem they inhabit.
The presence of tigers is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem. The disappearance of tigers from a landscape signals the loss of that area’s function as an intact natural forest.
Community-Based Forest Management: A Hope for Tigers
KKI WARSI continues to promote community-based conservation approaches, which have proven effective in sustaining forest areas. In several community-assisted regions, tiger tracks are still found, indicating that areas managed sustainably by local communities still provide safe habitats for wildlife.
“Conservation solutions cannot be exclusive. Tigers can only survive if we reconnect fragmented forests and empower local communities as frontline guardians,” Adi added.
In this regard, KKI WARSI invites all stakeholders—government, businesses, civil society organizations, and the public—to take part in the protection of tigers and the restoration of their habitats. Stop deforestation, safeguard critical areas, and strengthen the role of communities as forest protectors.
This Global Tiger Day should serve as a reminder that saving tigers means ensuring the sustainability of ecosystems, climate, and life for future generations.