By: Joe Taslim (WWF Tiger Warrior)

It has been approximately three years since I was appointed as a WWF Tiger Warrior, but this is the first time I have been directly involved in Sumatran tiger habitat. I got that rare opportunity on Tuesday (23/05) when I visited Rimbang Baling, one of the largest population pockets of Sumatran tigers in Indonesia. Along with me, there was also another WWF Warrior, Ario Bayu.

It was really cool, we had to use a piyau (small boat) down the clear Subayang River to get to the Rimbang Baling area. Apparently, this valuable experience did not only bring me to see the Sumatran tiger's "home" firsthand. On the other hand, I was also able to recognize the intricacies of community life adjacent to the Sumatran tiger habitat, ranging from local wisdom to how humans foster a harmonious relationship with nature.

Tanjung Belit Village, that's the name of one of the villages in the buffer zone of Bukit Rimbang Baling Wildlife Reserve, Riau, that we visited. I was very surprised and touched when one of the children in this village gave me a surprise gift. "Om Ajo, here is a painting for Om," he said, blushing. Ario Bayu also received a surprise in the form of handicrafts from one of the children.

When we visited the village, we also saw a kind of rope stretched across the river between two lands. It turned out to be a sign of Lubuk Larangan. That's when I learned that Lubuk Larangan is a local wisdom to maintain the balance and preservation of local nature. The area in Lubuk Larangan should not be taken by fish before the specified time for a collective harvest. Truly a local wisdom that can inspire us all.

The trip was even more impressive when we got a lot of information from Wishnu Sukmantoro, Program Manager of WWF-Indonesia Central Sumatra and Nurchalis Fadhli, Coordinator of the Tiger Habitat Integrated Conservation Project. They explained about WWF-Indonesia's activities in Rimbang Baling and the conservation efforts WWF is undertaking in Central Sumatra. The tiger research team also showed me their daily activities in conducting tiger research. For the first time, I saw how a camera trap works. These unique devices are installed scattered in the forest by rangers to keep track of Sumatran tiger population statistics. One of the cameras managed to capture a video image of a tiger passing the point where the camera was installed. Wow! This means that the tiger had passed the same location where I was standing at the time. Amazing feeling to experience this!

Visiting the Rimbang Baling location made me imagine how hard my fellow rangers and tiger research team have to work for Sumatran tiger conservation. The vast nature and difficult terrain provide their own challenges. The dedication and passion of our friends and the tiger research team is truly remarkable. As a WWF Warrior Tiger, I am even more motivated to fight for the conservation of Sumatran tigers.

Anyway, during the trip, I also met one of WWF-Indonesia's staff, Rafselia Novalina, who will be running a marathon to voice the campaign for Sumatran tiger conservation. She will #run4tigers. And the distance to be covered is 40 km! As for the rangers and the tiger research team, I also encourage and support her so that the Sumatran tiger can become the pride of Indonesia through the marathon run. And of course, the public can be more aware of the existence and preservation of Sumatran tigers.

This trip to Rimbang Baling reinvigorated my commitment to campaigning for the protection of animals and their habitats. Not only me and my WWF friends in the field, but everyone can also become a Warrior by participating in suppressing poaching and animal trade activities. Join me in becoming a WWF Tiger Warrior!