JAKARTA: Researchers from the Biosystematics and Evolution Research Center under the auspices of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Wirdateti, revealed surprising findings regarding the possible existence of the Javanese tiger, which had previously been thought to be extinct since the 1980s.
According to research, signs of the presence of Javanese tigers were revealed through the discovery of a piece of the animal’s hair around the fence dividing the people’s garden and the Cipeundeuy village road, South Sukabumi, West Java.
This finding began with a report from a resident named Ripi Yanuar Fajar to Kalih Raksasewu who recorded an encounter with an animal similar to the Javanese tiger, which has been reported to be extinct, on the evening of August 19 2019.
DNA analysis concluded that the hair found in South Sukabumi came from the species Panthera tigris sondaica, which is a Javanese tiger. This finding is in line with the Javanese Tiger collection which has been kept at the Zoologicum Bogoriense Museum (MZB) since 1930.
Apart from the hair findings, scratch marks similar to those produced by tigers were also found in the same location. Researchers also conducted in-depth interviews with eyewitnesses who saw the tiger, strengthening belief in its existence.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) assesses that the latest findings from BRIN provide a strong indication that the Javanese tiger, which was previously thought to be extinct, may still be roaming.
The Javanese tiger is a subspecies of tiger that is only found on the island of Java, making it endemic to the region.
According to records from Cat of World: Biology, Conservation, and Management, quoted by Kumparan, this tiger population was considered extinct around the 1980s as a result of hunting activities and the expansion of agricultural land which resulted in a dramatic reduction in their habitat.
In the early 19th century, Javanese tigers were often seen roaming the island of Java before they were finally declared extinct.
Its last confirmed sighting was in Meru Betiri National Park, East Java, in 1976.
Although in the 1990s there were several reports of its possible existence, none could be definitively verified. However, there are many reports of Javanese tiger sightings in forests in Central Java and East Java.
The Javanese tiger has a relatively small body compared to other tiger species on the Asian continent, although its size is still larger than the Bali tiger and about the same size as the Sumatran tiger.
Its natural habitat includes lowland forests, scrub forests, and may also wander into gardens around the countryside. In the past, this animal was considered a pest and was often hunted or poisoned by local residents.
Efforts to save the Javan Tiger have been made through the opening of several national parks, however the park size is too small and the limited number of prey is the main obstacle in these conservation efforts.
