CatSG

Tiger

Sumatran tiger (P. t. sumatrae)

According to the revised taxonomy of the Felidae, the tiger subspecies Panthera tigris sumatrae is included into the subspecies Panthera tigris sondaica. 

The former subspecies Sumatran tiger was classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. The Sumatran Tiger was recognised as a subspecies based on genetic analysis. Some researchers even proposed to classify it as a separate species. It occurs only on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The relatively high genetic variability and the phylogenetic distinctiveness of Sumatran tigers suggest a historically large effective population size, followed by highly restricted gene flow between the island and other populations. The Sumatra tiger persists in about 58,000 km² of forested habitat. The population was estimated to be around 400-500 animals. It suffers from poaching, as well as loss of habitat to human settlement which also occurs partly inside protected areas. Illegal trade of tiger parts and human-tiger conflict remains a threat. 

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