Jakarta - WWF camera traps installed in Lampung Sumatra, captured a rare moment where a pair of Sumatran Tigers were approaching each other to make out.

The scene, captured on camera in mid-December 2014, shows a larger male Sumatran Tiger approaching a female Sumatran Tiger. From their shy behavior, it could be indicated that the pair had just met. WWF Tiger Expert, Joseph Vattakayen said the female tiger signals the male tiger with postures and signals that indicate excitement. These behaviors, such as making special sounds, are positive signals to invite further interaction. Joseph added, "realizing the opportunity, the male tiger responded by doing a "flehmen" which is sticking out his tongue and showing off his teeth with a funny face while sniffing around the female tiger."

The recorded male Sumatran tiger had previously been caught on camera by WWF - Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS), and was named Riko by the WWF-TNBBS Joint Team. Since being installed in 2013, WWF-TNBBS camera traps have recorded and identified five Sumatran Tigers, two males and three females including the one in this footage.

Yob Charles, Project Leader of WWF Bukit Barisan Selatan Program said, "This is a reminder for the government to maintain and improve more comprehensive protection in the National Park and surrounding areas to ensure the tiger population remains stable in this region. During 2014 alone, the WWF-NPBBS Joint Team has swept 80 tiger snares and two illegal firearms inside the TNBBS area."

For more information, please contact:

• Nenden N. Fathiastuti, Public Relations Manager, WWF-Indonesia Email: nfathiastuti@wwf.or.id, Phone: +62 811 1909 148
• Chitra Ayu Wardhani, Communication Officer, WWF-Indonesia-Lampung-Bengkulu Office Email: cwardani@wwf.or.id, Hp: +62 823 8312 2627

Editor's Note:

• This Sumatran Tiger video can be downloaded at the following link: http://bit.ly/SumatranTigerVideo_WWF with @WWF-Indonesia as copyright.
• Flehmen or known as flehmen position, flehmen reaction comes from German, meaning the behavior of animals when exposing their front teeth, showing their upper lips, sniffing and others. This behavior is done to transfer pheromones and other scents into the vomeronasal organ located above the palate through a channel that exits just behind the animal's front teeth. This behavior is common in mammals.