ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris)

[peter]

SUMATRA - II

a - Forest fires

Forest fires are not uncommon in Sumatra. In the last two decades, the fires got larger and larger. The smog even affected people living in the southern part of Malaysia and Singapore. In 2015, the forest fires made headlines all over the globe. In that year, a team of experts from King's College (London) flew to Sumatra. This year, they returned. According to researcher Martin Wooster, the pollution is unprecedented. It is estimated that 36 000 people perish as a result of the fires every year.   

b - Effects

The fires are exceptional. The photograph in post 2,339 of this thread is telling. Here's a recent report I found on the site of the NOS (Dutch National Broadcasting Company). The report has a video: 

https://nos.nl/artikel/2303479-martin-doet-onderzoek-naar-branden-indonesie-de-waardes-die-we-meten-zijn-extreem.html

Most fires are started by locals. According to the report, they're paid by big firms. Some parts of Sumatra are more affected by others. This year, Jambi in particular was targeted. Although there's no information about the effects of the fires on wild animals, it's very likely they are suffering more than humans. The reason is they're living very close to the fires.

c - Tiger distribution

Here's a recent map showing the distribution of tigers:

*This image is copyright of its original author

d - Vegetation (Jambi is inside the black line):

*This image is copyright of its original author

e - Research

https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/4/e1501675.full

f - The beauty of what's all but gone

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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