Rare Sumatran tiger captured on camera in Harapan forest

Batang Hari, Jambi (ANTARA) - A critically endangered Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) was captured on camera in the Hutan Harapan ecosystem restoration area, which stretches across Jambi and South Sumatra.

Rohmat Eko Santoso, Head of the Research and Conservation Department of PT REKI Hutan Harapan, stated on Saturday that the discovery is undergoing further identification.

Therefore, his team cannot yet confirm the age and sex of the tiger, which was captured on camera in mid-April.

"It has not been analyzed further, it is just a discovery and the identification process," he said.

Santoso explained that the camera traps were installed from February to June 2026.

His team deployed 90 camera traps using a checkerboard system, which was installed at specific coordinates to systematically cover specific observation plots.

The discovery of the rare animal indicates that the ecosystem within the forest area remains well-maintained.

He also explained that during the camera trap deployment period, his team discovered approximately 39 species within the area.

The findings included deer (Cervidae), barking deer (Muntiacus), mouse deer (Tragulus), napu (Tragulus napu), bearded pig (Sus barbatus), tapir (Tapirus), and sun bear (Ursidae).

Hutan Harapan confirmed that it will conduct further analysis, including determining the tiger population within the 98,555-hectare tropical lowland forest area, which is the first ecosystem restoration concession in Indonesia.

"This is still progressing in the field for installation and analysis. We hope to release documents regarding the tiger number later," he concluded.

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Related news: Six camera traps deployed after tiger sighting in West Sumatra

Translator: Agus Suprayitno, Cindy Frishanti Octavia

Editor: Arie Novarina

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