Still in the series of Global Tiger Day on July 29, 2012 and the commemoration of World Ranger Day on July 31, 2012, WWF Indonesia again launched the Sahabat Harimau program. Through this initiative, WWF invites the public to be more concerned about the survival of Sumatran tigers in the wild, which are currently on the verge of extinction.

The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is one of 6 remaining tiger subspecies in the world that lives in Indonesia, specifically the forests of Sumatra. Previously, the Bali tiger and the Java tiger were declared extinct four decades ago. The charismatic species of Sumatra Island now only has about 400 individuals left in its habitat.

Forest destruction due to illegal logging practices and forest conversion are some of the threats that these species have to face. Deforestation has also led to a new threat, namely tiger-human conflict. The tiger's increasingly cornered habitat forces the animal to enter plantation areas and human settlements, resulting in unavoidable conflicts. Tigers are killed because they are considered to have disturbed humans. Not only that, poaching also contributes to the annual decline in tiger numbers. Tigers are killed for their skin, bones and other organs.

WWF is working with the Indonesian government, other conservation organizations, and local communities to intensify efforts to save Sumatran tigers from extinction. WWF also seeks to approach and work with companies whose concessions threaten the species' habitat through the implementation of better and sustainable land management practices. Various field research activities are also conducted, to estimate the population, habitat and distribution of endangered species. Together with relevant partners, WWF also established an anti-poaching patrol team and an education and awareness team tasked with helping local communities mitigate human-tiger conflict in areas prone to tiger conflict.

Now, WWF invites the wider community to take part in the success of Sumatran tiger protection efforts. By becoming a "Sahabat Harimau" through a minimum monthly donation of 100,000 rupiah, you have become an important part of WWF's Sumatran tiger conservation program.
You who have become a "Sahabat Harimau" will receive a Sahabat Harimau package in the form of a certificate, tiger doll, and Living Planet magazine published every four months as a form of our appreciation for your contribution. More information about the Sahabat Harimau program can be found at http://www.wwf.or.id/cara_anda_membantu/bertindak_sekarang_juga/supporterwwf/about_supporter/sahabatharimau2/.

Let's join hands together to preserve the Sumatran tiger. . Your support is an invaluable injection of energy for us to continue to intensify our efforts to save them.

Note to Editor

About WWF-Indonesia
WWF is an independent, global conservation organization founded in 1961 in Switzerland, with nearly 5 million supporters and networks in more than 100 countries. In Indonesia, WWF has become an entity of Yayasan WWF Indonesia and is active in more than 29 fieldwork areas and 17 provinces. WWF-Indonesia's mission is to save biodiversity and reduce the ecological impact of human activities. For more information about WWF, visit www.wwf.or.id.