The Sumatran Tiger is one of the worlds most beautiful animals.
But, they are also one of the worlds most endangered animals: the Sumatran Tiger is a critically endangered animal.
Today, there are less than 400 Sumatran Tigers in the wild, according to the WWF. With only 400 Sumatran Tigers left, it means that they are one of the worlds most threatened critically endangered animals.
The Sumatran Tiger is threatened with extinction due to their forest home being destroyed: Deforestation is a major reason why the Sumatran Tiger is close to extinction and a critically endangered animal.
But, they are not the only wild animal within the Sumatran Jungle which is threatened with extinction due to deforestation. There are other wild animals threatened by deforestation to. These other wild animals in the Sumatran Jungle which are threatened with deforestation and extinction in the future include the Sumatran Orangutan and the Sumatran Rhino.
These threats include deforestation for wood, deforestation for agriculture and deforestation to clear the Sumatran Jungle for palm oil plantations. All of these threats to the Sumatran Jungle threaten the wild animals that live within the jungle.
Deforestation in Sumatra also threatens the existence of all of the species of plants which are within the jungle, and the ecosystem itself. The threat to the Sumatran Jungle is so severe, that in 2013 there was a warning that
If the Sumatran Jungle disappears - then all of the animal life within the Sumatran Jungle will also disappear. This includes Sumatran Rhinos, Sumatran Elephants, Sumatran Orangutans and Sumatran Tigers.
We would lose all of these beautiful and unique animals and more with the disappearance of the Sumatran Jungle in the future.
The Sumatran Tiger is one of the wild animals within this ecosystem that could be one of the first iconic animals to go extinct in the 21st century. This is because Sumatran Tigers are threatened with deforestation.
But Sumatran Tigers also face another threat.
Sumatran Tigers are also threatened with two other major things: They are threatened when they come into contact with humans, and they are threatened due to the illegal wildlife trade. Both of these things are resulting in the decline of the Sumatran Tigers within the Sumatran Jungle.
All of these threats towards this majestic animal could result in them becoming extinct within our lifetime. That is if, we do nothing to save them.
Since 1978, the Sumatran Tiger population has declined by 60%. The Sumatran Tiger population in 1978 was 1,000 individual Tigers. By 2004, these beautiful animals had declined dramatically, as it was estimated in 2004 that there were only between 400 and 500 individual Sumatran Tigers left in the wild. But it didn't end there...
In 2017, it was reported that there was a further decline in the Sumatran Tiger population, as there was a 17% decline in Sumatran Tigers. And now, in 2019, it is estimated that there are less than 400 individual Sumatran Tigers remaining in the wild today.
In December last year, it was report that the Sumatran Tiger population was dwindling due to poaching and deforestation. Today, the Sumatran Tiger is being pushed towards extinction not just by poaching, but also because they are losing their forest home - the Sumatran Jungle.
Whether the Sumatran Tiger survives, will be up to humanity. It is humanity which is pushing the Sumatran Tiger towards extinction. We will either be the ones to save these beautiful animals, or, we will be the ones that cause these beautiful animals to become extinct - possibly within our lifetime.
We don't have to lose the Sumatran Tiger. They are not extinct - yet. And they are not beyond hope that we can't successfully save them, by conserving their habitat: The Sumatran Jungle.
But, we don't have time.
Time is running out for the Sumatran Tiger and the Sumatran Jungle.
To save Sumatran Tigers, we have to act now.
You can help Sumatran Tigers by Adopting a Tiger with the WWF.
You can also help Save Sumatra's Rarest Wildlife with the Rainforest Trust.
