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This article aims to answer why the tiger dance in Kerinci Regency, Jambi Province, has not developed widely despite being preserved for more than 30 years and becoming a popular dance in Jambi Province. Qualitative research methods were used to carry out this study. In-depth interviews and uninvolved observation of the artists' activities were used to collect the data. The analysis focused on the development of the tiger dance and the preservation discourse created by the artists and residents of Pulau Tengah Village. This study discovered that the extinct Ngagoah Imo ritual was transformed into the tiger dance. The "tiger man" myth, which the Kerinci people still hold dear, forms the basis of the tiger ritual and dance. Initially, the tiger dance was not sacred but was made sacred due to encouragement from various parties. Because of its uniqueness, the tiger dance soon became popular in Jambi and became a cure for the longing of the Kerinci people for the Ngagoah Imo ritual. Realizing the potential of tiger dance as an economic resource and as Kerinci's regional identity, the artists then created a discourse of property rights over tiger dance. They prohibited other villagers from learning or imitating it. This discourse is slowly making tiger dance endangered because it is only controlled by a small group of artists. Such a discourse on cultural property rights needs to be straightened out. Apart from being contrary to the dynamic character of Malay culture, it is also contrary to various principles of cultural preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wire-snare poaching is increasingly recognized as a major threat to endangered large carnivores in Africa and Asia. However, empirical information on the extent and distribution of snaring remains extremely limited beyond anecdotal reports presenting opportunistically collected data. In this study, we compile information to present a comprehensive synopsis of snaring of critically endangered Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae). Hunted for their parts and skins, Sumatran tigers remain in high demand in illicit international markets. We focus our analysis on the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra, Indonesia, which cumulatively contain ∼36 % of the island's remaining tiger habitat. Based on records collected from a combination of Indonesian government data, ranger patrol observations, and content analysis of local media, we identified 13 tiger snaring hotspots and documented 28 verified incidents of ensnared tigers between March 2008–March 2023. These totals represent minimum estimates because of spatiotemporal gaps in ranger patrols and inconsistent reporting of snaring by local communities. Our analysis of the incidents reveals tiger mortality in 9 (32.1 %) of the cases and permanent moves to ex-situ settings due to amputation or other debilitating snaring-induced injuries in another 8 (28.6 %) cases. Tiger snaring was positively correlated with forest-edge habitats in the Leuser Ecosystem, where 64.3 % of all incidents occurred. Across both provinces, 28.6 % of all snared tigers were allegedly captured in snares set in agricultural areas to control wild boar. To maximize efficacy of the government's ongoing anti-snare campaigns, we recommend increased personnel for ranger patrols and more attention on tiger-specific snaring impacts. • We identify 13 tiger snaring hotspots and document 28 verified incidents of ensnared tigers in northern Sumatra, Indonesia • 28.6% of all snared tigers were allegedly captured in snares set in agricultural areas to control wild boar • By land cover type, 67.9% (n=19) of all tiger snaring incidents occurred in agricultural areas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the establishment of a national protected area system at the beginning of the 20th century to protect some of the world's most biodiverse forests, Indonesia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, due in part to the expansion of the global palm oil industry. The unique ecosystems of Sumatra, Indonesia provide habitat for critically endangered Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae), Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatrensis), and two species of orangutans (Pongo abelii and Pongo tapanuliensis). In this study, we use a matching method with generalized boosted models to determine the effectiveness of three nationally protected areas in preventing deforestation from 2002 to 2016. We also examine leakage – an increase in deforestation directly outside of protected areas relative to the wider landscape – to provide a clearer picture of the effects of agricultural expansion in this landscape. We found that Tesso Nilo National Park, with its lowland rain forest and conditions suitable for oil palm, offered the least protection from deforestation (avoided deforestation rate = 4.18%, p < 0.05 95% CI [1.97% - 6.45%]). Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, which may experience some de facto protection (i.e. protection due to factors independent of policy) with its mountainous terrain and difficult access, had the highest avoided deforestation rate (26.36%, p < 0.05 95% CI [24.17–28.55]), but had relatively high leakage (10.21%, p < 0.05 95% CI [7.51–12.98]). The low avoided deforestation rate in Tesso Nilo could be due to high localized human population and/or other socio-economic factors we were unable to control for in this study. The quantitative evidence of deforestation and effectiveness of protected areas in this heavily modified landscape supports the need for increased enforcement around protected areas locally, and globally in other oil palm production regions. These actions are critical in the preservation of global, tropical endemic flora and fauna. Meskipun telah membangun sistem kawasan konservasi sejak awal abad ke 20 untuk melindungi hutan dengan keanekaragaman hayati yang sangat tinggi, Indonesia masih merupakan negara yang memiliki laju deforestasi yang tertinggi di dunia, akibat penkembangan industri sawit di dunia. Ekosistem-ekosistem endemic di Sumatera-Indonesia merupakan habitat bagi spesies-spesies yang memiliki status konservasi kritis yaitu harimau Sumatera (Panthera tigris sumatrae), gajah Sumatera (Elephas maximus sumatrensis), dan dua species orangutan (Pongo abelii dan Pongo tapanuliensis). Dalam penelitian ini, kami menggunakan metode matching dengan model generalized boosted untuk menentukan efektivitas dari tiga kawasan konservasi dalam mencegah terjadinya deforestasi dari tahun 2002–2016. Kami juga menilai leakage (kebocoran) – yang merupakan kenaikan laju deforestasi pada area yang berdekatan dengan kawasan konservasi– untuk memberikan gambaran yang utuh atas dampak industri sawit dunia. Kami menemukan bahwa Taman Nasional Tesso Nilo, dengan habitat dan kondisi hutan tropis dataran rendah, yang juga sesuai untuk tanaman sawit, merupakan kawasan konservasi yang memiliki kemampuan paling rendah dalam melindungi dari deforestasi (laju pencegahan deforestasi = 4.18%, p < 0.05 95% CI [1.97% - 6.45%]). Sedangkan Taman Nasional Bukit Tigapuluh yang merupakan kawasan pegunungan memiliki laju pencegahan deforestasi tertinggi (26.36%, p < 0.05 95% CI [24.17–28.55]), namun memilki nilai kebocoran yang relatif tinggi (10.21%, p < 0.05 95% CI [7.51–12.98]). Fakta kuantitatif dari deforestasi dan efektivitas kawasan konservasi pada landskap yang termodifikasi sangat berat ini mengkonfirmasi adanya kebutuhan yang mendesak untuk melakukan penguatan di sekitar kawasan konservasi baik di tingkat lokal maupun global pada wilayah yang ditujukan untuk produksi sawit. Aksi-aksi tersebut sangat dibutuhkan untuk mendukung perlindungan flora dan fauna endemik di dunia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sumatran tigers ( Panthera tigris sumatrae ) are a critically endangered carnivore restricted to the island of Sumatra, and like many other large mammals on the Indonesian archipelago, they are threatened by high levels of poaching and widespread habitat degradation. Here, we conduct the first range-wide assessment of Sumatran tiger genetics using scat surveys and show that the wild population retains levels of genetic heterozygosity comparable to mainland tigers. However, the population also exhibits signs of subdivision due to the unprecedented rates of deforestation and land conversion in the last 30–40 years. The fact that this subspecies retains such levels of heterozygosity despite high rates of habitat loss and increasing isolation suggests a form of genetic extinction debt with an elevated risk of extinction if no action is taken within the next 30–100 years (see Kenney et al., 2014 ). However, the inherent time delay in extinction debt provides opportunities for conservation if habitat quality can be improved and connections between existing population fragments can be made. Our study highlights the importance of genetic studies for providing baseline information to improve the population management of highly threatened carnivore species. Mitigating further habitat degradation and expansion of oil palm and other cash crops in this region would improve the viability not only of Sumatran tiger populations, but of other threatened large mammal species as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To model differential extinction rates for island populations of tigers Panthera tigris and leopards P. pardus. Indonesia. We built VORTEX population models of tiger and leopard populations on an island the size of Bali (3632 km2), using data from the literature. The tiger populations were less extinction prone than the leopard populations. This was unexpected as tigers had the smaller population sizes and, as such, might be assumed to be more extinction prone. We identified several aspects of tiger breeding biology that explain the result. Sea level reconstructions suggest that both tiger and leopard would have been present in Java, Sumatra and Bali at the end of the last glacial. Our model provides a plausible mechanism based on population ecology to explain why these leopard populations were more extinction prone than the tiger populations. In addition it illustrates the potential utility of population ecology models in understanding historical patterns in biogeography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]