Sumatran tiger Panthera tigris sumatrae
Sumatran tiger видео
The Sumatran tiger is a subspecies that inhabits only the Indonesian island of Sumatra, with most animals living within the areas of nature reserves and national parks. The Sumatran tiger is very small: males weigh from 100 to 130 kg, and weights of the females range from 70 to 90 kg. Relatively small size is thought to be an adaptation for the wild habitats represented by dense tropical forests. The size of the wild population is estimated at between 400 and 500 individuals. Recent genetic studies have revealed the presence of unique genetic markers, indicating that this subspecies may develop into a separate species, if it does not go extinct. This has led to the suggestion that Sumatran tigers should have greater priority for conservation than any other subspecies. While habitat destruction is the main threat to existing Sumatran tiger population (logging continues even in the strictly protected areas of Sumatra), 66 tigers (20% of the population) were shot by poachers between 1998 and 2000.
