Lack of focus hinder protecting Sumatran tiger
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Indonesia's Conservation and Natural Resource Agency is lack of focus and skill to protect Sumatran tiger even though efforts have been done to increase population and conservation areas, an official told Xinhua in an interview on Tuesday.
Bobby Nopandry, a field staff of the Conservation and Natural Resource Agency at North Sumatra province, said that tasks carried out by his institution are too many, making the agency is lack of priority as it also has to prioritize efforts in protecting orangutans, elephants, Sumatran tigers and other endangered animals.
"Not to mention that we have deal with people, flora and fauna and other species. I can say that in all Conservation and Natural Resource Agencies in Indonesia, there is no such thing as a specific job to protect certain endangered animal," said Nopandry.
He said that the condition is much different compared to non governmental organizations (NGOs) focusing on certain endangered animals.
Moreover, according to Nopandry, his agency is lack of special skill in managing Sumatran tigers.
"Our staffs are not completed with special skills to handle tigers. They are only completed with general skills. The skills are commonly used for educating people. If there is a conflict between people and tigers that enter their villages due to lack of food in jungles, we just tell people not to kill the tigers. But, what we have to provide different treatment in dealing the tigers, " said Nopandry.
He also said that Indonesia has about 400 Sumatran tigers in wildlife.
"However, we have more Sumatran tigers in breeding centers and zoos, domestically and internationally."
He said that there is an optimism among government and environmental activists that the number of Sumatran tigers could be increased in the future.
"There are efforts to increase conservation areas, such in Tesso Nelo National Park in Riau province and Batang Gadis National Park in North Sumatra province," he said.
According to Nopandry, there is emergence of public awareness to increase protection for the endangered species.
"For example in Batang Toru jungle of North Sumatra, people are more concerned to prioritize conservation area for endangered animals than for productive jungles," he said.
Nopandry said that the optimism must be accompanied with awareness to increase protection on forests.
"Reducing forests mean reducing food for Sumatran tigers due to legal and illegal loggings, threatening the existence of the species," he said.
He said that Sumatran tigers are among "the flagship species" with orangutan, rhino and elephant.
"Treatment for the animals is so special. In fact, of what I heard from local villagers, they get 'more special treatment' than human," he said.
The Conservation and Natural Resource Agency manages conservation areas, consisted of natural preservation, tourism park as well as flora and fauna.
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