Why are Tigers Declining in Sumatra?
Sumatran tigers have been declining for decades. In order to better understand the dynamics between tigers, prey species, their habitats, and people, WCS undertook an ambitious scientific survey of Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park beginning in 1998. A di Taman Nasional Bukit combination of camera-trapping, satellite image analysis, and human that habitats of tigers are quickly being lost, and prey species are being hunted at unsustainable rates. The loss of tiger prey species meant the lack of food for tigers. As Dr. Ullas Karanth, a prominent tiger biologist with WCS, said, “Cats need cat food.” In addition, the loss prey species and ever-increasing proximity between tigers and humans have led to increased raiding by tigers. At present, there are 50 between 50 to 100 tigers in the park, which we and our partners continue to monitor and protect. Combining our survey data with computerized satellite geographic information systems, WCS is in the frontline of data survei developing a h
