One of the biggest threats to Sumatran tigers is human-tiger conflict. And with your amazing help, the Tiger Patrol Team is stepping in, helping to protect both tigers and people from danger.
Human-tiger conflict happens when wild tigers come too close to villages, farms and homes. As forests shrink, tigers are forced closer to people, and sometimes attack livestock. To protect their livelihoods, farmers sometimes retaliate in harmful ways. These moments are scary and dangerous for both people and tigers. But with your generous help, the Tiger Patrol Team is equipped and ready to respond quickly when there’s a problem. They help villagers protect their farms and livestock, and stop conflicts before they happen.
Here’s a look at three real conflict response missions that your support made possible:
The Tiger Patrol Team talking with villagers.
Response One: A Clouded Leopard in Trouble
Location: Village in West Sumatra
Report: The Tiger Patrol team responded to a call from a worried village farmer, who reported a clouded leopard attacking his livestock. Locals reported seeing the leopard roaming near the village for two days.
Action: The team visited the farmer and his village, and spoke with the locals. They gave advice on how to secure their livestock, ensuring no further attacks could take place.
Outcome: Success! The leopard didn’t return, no further attacks were reported by farmers and no harmful actions were taken. Everyone in the village feels safe, and now knows how to protect their farms and livestock.
The installation of a trail camera.
Response Two: A Tiger Near the Village
Location: A known tiger corridor near farmland
Report: A farmer reported seeing a tiger resting just 10 metres from his farmland. Thankfully, the tiger moved calmly back into the forest. The area is a well-known tiger route, with many previous sightings of tigers. Checking out the area, the team found faded tiger tracks. They also discovered signs of threats to tiger habitat, including illegal clearing of the forest.
Action: The team installed a trail camera to keep watch over the area, and spoke to locals about staying alert, working in groups, and only during daylight hours.
Outcome: Safe and sound! After a week, no more tiger sightings were recorded. It’s likely the tiger was just passing through. Most importantly, no one got hurt–and farmers now feel more confident and prepared.
The Tiger Patrol Team en route to rescue the trapped sun bear.
Response Three: A Sun Bear in a Snare
Location: Forested area alongside a village
Report: A local resident was foraging for durian, and spotted two sun bears–one of which was caught in a snare. The young bear was caught by its front leg, and had an injured cheek.
Action: The Tiger Patrol Team rushed to the scene. They freed the bear, but it ran off before they could evacuate it to safety. The team reported the illegal snare to local authorities and removed more traps they found in the area. They also discovered signs of illegal forest clearing, and took time to speak with the community. They explained how traps harm wildlife, and why protecting the forest is so important for everyone.
Outcome: No other wildlife has been harmed in the area, and local villagers now understand the dangers of deadly snares and forest destruction.
Thank You for Protecting Tigers and People!
Because of you, tigers and other precious wildlife are kept protected and safe–and so are the people who live near them. Together, we’re building a safer future for wildlife and local communities in Sumatra.
Thank you for being a part of this life-saving work 🧡
Program: APE Protector (Animals, People and Environment)
Location: West Sumatra, Indonesia
Program Partner: This program is a collaboration with our partners at Centre for Orangutan Protection and the Ministry of Forestry 🌳