The Sumatran tiger is on the critically endangered IUCN Red List with fewer than 400 individuals left in the wild. Stalked by poachers who slaughter them for their skins and body parts, the tigers risk capture by teams of traffickers with no concern for the welfare of their lucrative cargo. Meanwhile as Indonesia loses an area of forest over five times the size of London each year, the tiger’s natural habitat – and source of food – is becoming increasingly scarce.

FFI started its Tiger programme in Kerinci in 2000, with ranger patrols, undercover operations to arrest poachers, and relocation of tigers from human conflict areas. FFI plans to grow its work in that area. The challenge is to provide effective coverage over a huge area of designated protected forest: 1.4 million hectares. This can be achieved by increasing the ranger patrols, community involvement and active policing of the region.