Jakarta, Indonesia - On July 16th, 2014,
Panthera
,
the world's leading wild cat conservation organization, at their
annual Tigers Forever meeting, recognized notable successes from
numerous partners across tiger range in the fight to save wild tigers.
Long-term conservation efforts in Indonesia to protect the endangered
Sumatran tiger were celebrated, specifically those undertaken by the
Artha Graha Peduli Foundation-Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation,
the Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Environment, the provincial
government of Lampung, and the National Council on Climate Change.
,
led the awards ceremony congratulating Tambling Wildlife Nature
Conservation for the organization's long-term commitment to
anti-poaching efforts. Preliminary data released last year indicated
this site had
the highest density of tigers ever recorded for the island of Sumatra, making it a shining example of successful tiger conservation from not just Sumatra, but from across the tiger's entire range.
Also
recognized were the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry represented by Dr.
Zulkifli Hasan, Dr. Balthasar Kambuaya of the Ministry of Environment,
the provincial government of Lampung, and Prof Ir. Rachmat Witoelar,
Executive Chairman of the National Council on Climate Change, for their
commitment, political engagement and enactment of conservation-minded
legislation.
Dr.
Rabinowitz stated, "Tonight we shine a spotlight on the efforts of many
who are on the frontlines protecting tigers across Asia, with a special
focus on what's happening here in Indonesia, in Sumatra. The efforts of
the Government of Indonesia, Artha Graha Peduli Foundation, and rangers
and conservationists working in Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation,
serve as a remarkable example of what can be achieved for tigers if
there are sufficient resources, political will, and long-term commitment
to ensuring that the key threats to tigers are stopped."
The
Founder of Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation, Mr. Tomy Winata,
stated, "The tiger conservation success that we see in Tambling is the
result of many highly committed people who have worked tirelessly with
us over the years. I would like to specifically acknowledge the
continuous support of the Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Environment,
the provincial government of Lampung, and the National Council on
Climate Change. In coordination with our patrols, the scientific
training and monitoring with our partners at Panthera, and the
government support for Tambling's tigers and the wider landscape of
Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, all of this is allowing Tambling to
fulfill its conservation potential, offering tigers a refuge from the
persecution these cats face in so many other parts of their range. This
is an encouraging beginning for us all, and much more is yet to be done
in protecting Indonesia's wildlife."
Active since 1996, Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation is a 450km2
privately managed concession in southern Sumatra. Today Tambling serves
as a replicable model of success for tiger conservation in Indonesia
and around the world due to its strict focus on training, outfitting and
incentivizing law enforcement patrols and a zero tolerance policy
towards poaching of tigers and their prey. Acknowledging the critical
commitment of Tambling's law enforcement teams, the boots on the ground
in protecting and growing Sumatra's tigers, Dr. Rabinowitz closed the
ceremony by presenting Tiger Conservation Award Certificates to
Tambling's outstanding rangers and congratulated them for their heroic
efforts and for being true tiger conservation champions.
Along
with poaching for the illegal wildlife market, tigers are largely
threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, conflict with local
communities, and overhunting of prey species. Now in its ninth year,
Panthera's Tigers Forever program
is specifically mitigating and eliminating the most pressing threats
to protect the most viable, breeding tiger populations providing
long-term refuge for this highly endangered species. Today, with a
razor-sharp focus on law enforcement, cutting-edge technology, and
measuring and monitoring of conservation activities and tiger and prey
populations, Tigers Forever serves as one of the greatest hopes for
securing a future for wild tigers. In partnership with NGOs, local
communities, and governments, Tigers Forever is being implemented in 14
sites across 6 countries in Asia, with the goal of increasing tiger
numbers at key sites by at least 50% over a 10-year period.
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