26-3-2024 (JAKARTA) Indonesia is intensifying its search for signs of the extinct Javan tiger possibly still existing in the wild, following new findings suggesting a link between a DNA-tested hair and the iconic big cat, a government official revealed on Tuesday (Mar 26).
Endemic to Indonesia, both the Javan and Balinese tigers were declared extinct in the 1980s and 1940s respectively, leaving the Sumatran tiger as the sole surviving tiger species in the archipelago nation.
A recent study published by Cambridge University Press unveiled genetic traces of the Javan tiger in a single hair discovered near a village in West Java in 2019. Scientists from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), along with conservationists, spearheaded this discovery.
Satyawan Pudyatmoko, head of conservation at the environment and forestry ministry, commended the research and outlined forthcoming actions to address the findings. These actions include deploying camera traps, enlisting genetics experts to aid in further research and testing, and gathering community data.
“If, for example, it is proven that it still exists, it will certainly become a protected animal. It is the obligation of all parties, including the society, to participate in preserving their population,” asserted Pudyatmoko.
The tiger hair, while sharing similarities with Sumatran and Bengal tigers, exhibited distinct characteristics from other tiger sub-species, according to the researchers.
The study recounted an eyewitness account of a Javan tiger sighting in 2019 at a forest plantation near Sukabumi city in West Java province. A hair sample was collected from a fence allegedly jumped by the big cat, alongside the discovery of footprints and claw marks.
“Based on our in-depth interview with (resident) Ripi Yanur Fajar, who saw the tiger, we believe the hair is from a Javan tiger,” stated the study’s abstract. However, it emphasized the need for further genetic and field studies to confirm the presence of the Javan tiger in the wild.
Muhammad Ali Imron, head of WWF Indonesia’s Forest and Wildlife Program, acknowledged the researchers’ efforts but stressed the necessity of confirming the findings with additional samples and alternative genetic testing methods, citing the limited nature of hair samples.
Imron also expressed concern about the public disclosure of the findings, warning of potential risks of alerting hunters.
The Javan tiger’s extinction was attributed to poaching and escalating conflicts with humans, according to authorities. Meanwhile, the Sumatran tiger, highly coveted by poachers for its body parts, faces critical endangerment, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimating fewer than 400 individuals remaining in the wild.
