Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae); this individual is in a zoo.
Image: Basotxerri, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The Sumatran tiger is the smallest living tiger subspecies and the only one surviving in the Indonesian islands. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It lives in dwindling rainforest and is darker and more closely striped than mainland tigers.
Range & habitat
The island of Sumatra, Indonesia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Poaching for skins and parts
- Deforestation (including for palm oil)
- Human-tiger conflict
Why it matters
The last of Indonesia's island tigers, the Sumatran tiger is a flagship for protecting Sumatra's rapidly shrinking rainforests.
Sources
Sources for Sumatran Tiger
- IUCN Red List — look up Sumatran Tiger (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Sumatran tiger different from other tigers?
It is the smallest tiger subspecies, with darker fur and narrower, more closely set stripes — adaptations to its dense island rainforest. The Bali and Javan tigers, also island tigers, are already extinct.
Why is the Sumatran tiger Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite poaching for skins and body parts, deforestation including for palm oil, and conflict with people. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: