S c i e nc e - Nanyang Technological University...Sumatran tiger ( Panthera tigris sumatrae ) is greater than ever, said the study's lead author Matthew Luskin. "There are two forests

Key points:

Only two populations big enough to survive long term

Tiger density increased in protected areas butdecreased overall

Sumatran tiger extinction risk worse than thought as palm oildeforestation marches on

By environment reporter Nick Kilvert

Updated about an hour agoFirst posted about 6 hours ago

There are now believed to be only two viable populations of Sumatran tigers in the wild after a year-longsurvey found the tigers' habitat is still being cleared for industries like palm oil.

Scientists estimate that the number of criticallyendangered tigers remaining is down to 618 as of2012, a reduction of more than 16 per cent onestimates since 2000.

But critically, they say in a paper published in NatureCommunications today, land clearing has fragmentedmany of those tigers into small, isolated groups thatwill not be able to survive long term.

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Deforestation for products like palm oil are wreaking havoc on tiger habitat. (Supplied: Matthew Scott Luskin)

Road building, oil palm plantations key culprits intiger decline

GIF: Sumatra landclearing

With only two of the groups containing more than 30breeding females, the risk of extinction of theSumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is greaterthan ever, said the study's lead author MatthewLuskin.

"There are two forests that are still large enough toindependently sustain tigers over the long andmedium terms," said Dr Luskin, who conducted theresearch as part of his PhD at the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley.

The researchers studied the tigers across a range oflowland, montane and logged habitat using hundredsof remote cameras triggered by movement.

Individual tigers were able to be identified by theirunique stripe pattern which enabled the researchers toavoid duplication.

Corruption, palm oil trade paves way for wildlife poachers

What do you think could be done to protect the Sumatran tiger population? Join the discussion.

Although habitat fragmentation caused by roads is one threat to tigers, the access the roads provide can spark afurther cascade of pressures, according to Mason Campbell, a tropical ecologist at James Cook University.

"Indonesia is investing heavily in putting in big [roads] through the major islands," Dr Campbell said.

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Kerinci Seblat National Park was estimated to have 42 breeding females in 2012. (Supplied: Matthew Scott Luskin)

"In behind them is often the selective loggers and the illegal loggers who go in and steal some of the high-valuetimber."

According to Dr Campbell, the conservation status of forests can be downgraded after they have been logged, givingindustry a foothold to begin development.

"It's bigger, larger, richer companies coming in, and they're often — I'm trying to put this politely — intricatelylinked with the local government officials who've approved those roads," he said.

"Once it's a production area it's a bit of a free-for-all for palm oil companies."

Hope in untouched areas

Although the researchers found an overall decline in Sumatran tiger numbers, they were encouraged to find thattiger population density had increased in areas that remained untouched.

"The results are a mixed bag for tigers," Dr Luskin said.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) publishes a yearly updated scorecard that rates companies' use of palm oil.

Whilst some retailers like Coles and Woolworths scored highly in 2017, a number of big brand names refused toshare their data.

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Tiger density has increased in undisturbed areas of Sumatra. (Supplied: Matthew Scott Luskin)

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Exploitation of animal habitat for Palm Oil production is one of the topics that are addressedby Primary Ethics teachers in primary schools in NSW. Kids are made aware that it is possibleto discriminate against products containing palm oil, in the supermarket with Mum or Dad orby downloading an app that makes it easy to identify the offending products. Hip pocketaction is the only answer - reduce or eliminate demand and the market will act accordingly.But, as indicated in this article, high level corruption, in the form of granting of large forestedconcessions to wealthy or politically-connected businessmen will take a lot of time andpressure to stamp out - especially in Malaysia and Indonesia.

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