Wild Cat of Sumatra

Five species of wild cat found on the island of Sumatra has been shown to inhabit the area between the National Park Bukit Tigapuluh and Rimbang Baling Wildlife Reserve in Riau Province. But their habitat is threatened of forest encroachment.

The locations where five unique jungle cats are found is an area known as a wildlife corridor or pathway crossings - connecting two conservation areas Bukit Tigapuluh and Rimbang Baling Wildlife Reserve.

This areas currently threatened by degradation due to encroachment and logging of natural forests on a large scale. "Beside congkok cats, all kinds of wild cats are protected species under Regulation 7 / 1999 on the preservation of plants and animals," said Karmila Parakkasi, Coordinator of Research Team Tiger, WWF Indonesia.

The existence of these five types of wild cats, four of which are protected, it is known if the animal is passed and recorded by automatic camera mounted by team of WWF-Indonesia.

Five types of cats are the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi), stone cat (Pardofelis marmorata), golden cat (Catopuma temmincki), and cat congkok (Prionailurus bengalensis).

Mila added that the criteria of IUCN conservation organizations, all four types of wild cats are included in the category of animals threatened their extinction (endangered) to Critically Endangered.

The findings of the five types of Sumatran cat proves the uniqueness and richness of species of animals owned forest landscape of Bukit Tigapuluh and surrounding connective corridor. These findings also indicate the importance of a serious effort to immediately protect the region from the threat of encroachment and logging of natural forests on a large scale.

During the three-month systematic survey conducted by an automatic camera WWF in 2011 in the region has successfully found a total of 404 images of wild cats, which consists of 226 photographs Sumatran tiger, clouded leopard 77 photos, 70 photos golden cat, the cat photo 4 stone, and 27 photos of congkok cat.

Earlier in May 2011, WWF released a video mother and three Sumatran tiger cubs playing in front of the automatic video camera in the same region. "Unfortunately the region suffered deforestation due to clearing of natural forests on a large scale by the company and the encroachment by the public for oil palm plantations," said Aditya Bayunanda program coordinator for the Global Forest Trade Network, WWF Indonesia.
According to him, to this threat by deforestation and encroachment by a public company is still ongoing in the region.