Sumatran tiger

Asian animals

Felines

Predators

The Sumatran tiger is an agile feline that moves easily in dense vegetation. Tigers hunt mostly at dawn and dusk but can also hunt during the day. Their stripes allow them to be well camouflaged when the sun's rays shining through the canopy form patterns on the ground. This makes hunting easier, as prey do not recognise the tigers until it is too late. The tiger is the largest feline species globally, but the Sumatran tiger, the smallest subspecies, weighs just over 100kg. The Sumatran tiger is the subspecies of tiger that is darkest in colour and has the narrowest stripes. Today, there are between 400 and 500 Sumatran tigers left in the wild and they are only found on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Illegal hunting is a major threat and the tiger is unfortunately still hunted despite being protected. Sumatra also has a huge problem with forests being cut down and replaced with plantations for the production of palm oil, for example. Deforestation means that the Sumatran tiger's home disappears, its prey disappears and the tiger becomes an easy target for poachers. We can all help to slow down deforestation, for example by not buying products containing palm oil.

The zoo participates in the European Conservation Breeding Programme (EEP) to conserve the species.

CITES A