The island of Sumatra is the only place where tigers, rhinos, orangutans, and elephants live together in the wild.

The presence of the Sunda tiger is an important indicator of a forest's health and biodiversity.

Protecting tigers and their habitat means many other species benefit—including people.

Coming face to face with this beast is a sight to behold. I noticed the alpha male slowly emerging through the bushes, conveying the message that my presence was not welcomed.

What followed is a 2 part series of images shows this alpha emerging from the dark to the light.

Coming face to face with this beast is a sight to behold. I noticed the alpha male slowly emerging through the bushes, conveying the message that my presence was not welcomed.

What followed is a 2 part series of images shows this alpha emerging from the dark to the light.

Conservation Fact

Tiger poaching occurs even in protected areas.

Tiger bones are used to make tiger bone wine, a drink in demand by a small number of wealthy Chinese who believe it will impart the characteristics of the tiger to the drinker.

Tiger canines may be worn as jewelry, and tiger skin furniture and other products are seen as status symbols among some in Asia.

Conservation efforts support the sustainable management of tiger habitat, stronger protections of the tigers in those habitats, and development programs for the communities that live nearby so that no one feels forced to turn to poach to feed their families.

Captive-breeding programs outside of Indonesia have allowed researchers to learn more about Sumatran tiger reproduction and behavior to improve conservation efforts on the ground.

Credit: nat geo

Tigers, especially young transients looking to establish their own range, occasionally wander out of the forest and into farmland.

Usually, the tiger passes through and safely returns to the forest, but sometimes it will take a cow or a dog and – very rarely – attack a person.

Credit: faunafloraint