A Triumph for Conservation

In a significant victory for wildlife conservation, two residents of Air Batu Village in Bangko District, Jambi Province, were arrested on 30 May 2024 for carrying Sumatran tiger skin, bones, and pangolin scales. This successful operation was the result of a collaborative effort between the Law Enforcement Centre of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Gakkum KLHK), Jambi Regional Police (Sat Reskrim Polda), the Jambi Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), and the Centre for Orangutan Protection’s APE Protector Team.

The APE Protector Team played a pivotal role, providing crucial intelligence that led to the arrests. They had been in contact with the suspects, who had attempted to sell the tiger skin for IDR 100 million and 1.3 kg of pangolin scales for IDR 1.5 million. Upon alerting the relevant law enforcement agencies, a task force was swiftly assembled to intercept the perpetrators at the point of sale.

Examinations revealed the tragic details of the captured animal: an adult female tiger, over ten years old, with a bullet hole believed to be the cause of death. Alongside the tiger skin, authorities confiscated 10 leg bones, two hip bones, two tail bones, 24 ribs, two skull bones, and 35 backbones. This highlights the brutal reality of poaching, where tigers are hunted for their skin, fangs, meat, claws, and whiskers—parts that fetch high prices on the black market for use in traditional medicine and crafts.

With fewer than 300 Critically Endangered Sumatran tigers remaining, confined to isolated habitat pockets, every effort to protect them is crucial. The arrested individuals are currently undergoing legal proceedings with regional police. If found guilty, they could face up to five years in prison and a fine of IDR 100 million.

Established in 2022, the APE Protector Team is one of six teams under the Centre for Orangutan Protection, specifically dedicated to conserving tiger populations in West Sumatra. Based in Sontang Cubadak Village, Pasaman District, their efforts include forest patrols, capacity building for locals, mitigating human-tiger conflict, raising awareness for tiger conservation, and supporting wildlife trade investigations. They meticulously investigate local and cyber markets selling protected species, profile suspects, and document evidence, which has been instrumental in the arrest of several wildlife traffickers.

Your support enables these courageous teams to continue their vital work, protecting our planet’s most endangered species. Together, we can make a difference and ensure a future for the majestic Sumatran tiger.