VIVAnews - The World Bank teams up with Our Tiger Forum in preserving Sumatran Tiger (Panther tigris).
Head of Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of West Sumatra, Indra Arina, stated that the policies on tiger preservation in West Sumatra have been only calls. "In fact, the preservation of the animal in extinction is poor," said Arina on Tuesday, March 11.
Arina expected that the arrival of the World Bank may put pressure on the government to prioritize on tiger preservation. According to data of BKSDA, it is estimated that around 1.5 tiger are living in an area of 100 square kilometers.
Head of Our Tiger Forum, Hariyo Tabah Wibisono, said his organization is concerned in campaigning on the existence of Sumatran tiger. It is a technical effort of his organization in monitoring the animal. According to the plan, the tiger conservation program in West Sumatra will end in 2017.
"So far, we have only checked and campaigned on the tiger preservation program to people in several areas in West Sumatra," he said.
During the one-day visit to West Sumatra, the World Bank, arriving with Our Tiger Forum, has carried out discussions with the related institutions. They had also visited West Sumatra Police Department.
John Seindenticer from the Smithsonian Institution and Mahendra Shrestha from the Tiger Fund were also in the meeting. The talked about the plan of the World Bank to issue the Sumatran Tiger preservation program in West Sumatra.
According to World Bank consultant Mahendra, his visit to West Sumatra was aimed at setting up inter-organizational coordination in the tiger habitat. In addition to donating money to such conservation agency as Our Tiger Forum, the team will also observe the field.
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Coverage: Eri Naldi | Padang
Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono
