Notes from the artist, Alison Wheeler:
This piece was inspired by traditional tattoo iconography and executed in the style of traditional, American tattoo flash. The images included in the flash are representative of the Sumatran Tiger and its native habitat of Sumatra, Indonesia.
About The Sumatran Tiger Trust: The Sumatran tiger trust is the largest conservation project for Sumatran tigers on the planet, working in the field with anti-poaching rangers, education and official efforts to preserve the remaining 350 wild Sumatran tiger left on the planet.
This piece was inspired by traditional tattoo iconography and executed in the style of traditional, American tattoo flash. The images included in the flash are representative of the Sumatran Tiger and its native habitat of Sumatra, Indonesia.
About The Sumatran Tiger Trust: The Sumatran tiger trust is the largest conservation project for Sumatran tigers on the planet, working in the field with anti-poaching rangers, education and official efforts to preserve the remaining 350 wild Sumatran tiger left on the planet.
ABOUT THE SUMATRAN TIGER
The Sumatran Tiger is a subspecies of tiger found only on the Island of Sumatra, a western Indonesia island also famous for unique species/sub-species of Orangutan, Rhinoceros and Elephant. Like all tigers, it is highly endangered.
At the beginning of the 20th century, it is estimated that more than 100,000 tigers roamed the Earth. World Wildlife Fund currently estimates that less than 3200 (of all tiger subspecies) remain in the wild today. Three subspecies of tigers, the Javan, the Bali, and the Caspian, are already extinct.
The Sumatran Tiger is the most genetically isolated and also the smallest of all remaining tiger subspecies. Its small size is an adaptation which allows it to easily travel and hunt in the dense rain forests of Sumatra. In part due to their webbed toes, Sumatran Tigers are also superlative swimmers, and have been seen driving hoofed prey into the water. They tend to prey on Wild Boar, Malayan Tapir and deer, but will take fowl, monkeys and fish if given the chance.
Though some sources think there may be 400-500 remaining, the Sumatran Tiger Trust estimates that there are as few as 350 of these rare and unique tigers left in the wild.
The largest threat to these magnificent creatures is habitat loss. Prior to 1900, Sumatra was covered in dense uncut forest, but this has been so substantially reduced, that the tigers now survive primarily in the island's five national parks. Forests in Sumatra are destroyed for development, agriculture, and timber --- such as for large paper mills that export internationally. The growth of palm oil plantations is also to blame for this massive destruction.
Illegal poaching also threatens the remaining tigers. Chinese medicine claims that nearly every part of the tiger has healing powers, from tiger eyeballs for epilepsy to tiger whiskers for tooth aches. Unsurprisingly, these are unscientific and unsubstantiated claims, and trade in tiger parts is illegal. Nonetheless, a dead tiger can fetch up to $20k on the black market.
Thankfully, there are several major conservation efforts underway to help protect the Sumatran Tiger, including agencies like the Indonesian Forestry service working in tandem with private companies and non-profit conservation organizations.
At the moment, there are more Sumatran Tigers in captivity (361), than likely exist in the wild (approx. 350), so captive breeding programs are also key --- though it is sad to think of these creatures in cages. Hopefully it will be in the not too distant future that many of these captive animals can be returned to the wild, into a safe and managed habitat, where they can breed and thrive.
The Sumatran Tiger is a subspecies of tiger found only on the Island of Sumatra, a western Indonesia island also famous for unique species/sub-species of Orangutan, Rhinoceros and Elephant. Like all tigers, it is highly endangered.
At the beginning of the 20th century, it is estimated that more than 100,000 tigers roamed the Earth. World Wildlife Fund currently estimates that less than 3200 (of all tiger subspecies) remain in the wild today. Three subspecies of tigers, the Javan, the Bali, and the Caspian, are already extinct.
The Sumatran Tiger is the most genetically isolated and also the smallest of all remaining tiger subspecies. Its small size is an adaptation which allows it to easily travel and hunt in the dense rain forests of Sumatra. In part due to their webbed toes, Sumatran Tigers are also superlative swimmers, and have been seen driving hoofed prey into the water. They tend to prey on Wild Boar, Malayan Tapir and deer, but will take fowl, monkeys and fish if given the chance.
Though some sources think there may be 400-500 remaining, the Sumatran Tiger Trust estimates that there are as few as 350 of these rare and unique tigers left in the wild.
The largest threat to these magnificent creatures is habitat loss. Prior to 1900, Sumatra was covered in dense uncut forest, but this has been so substantially reduced, that the tigers now survive primarily in the island's five national parks. Forests in Sumatra are destroyed for development, agriculture, and timber --- such as for large paper mills that export internationally. The growth of palm oil plantations is also to blame for this massive destruction.
Illegal poaching also threatens the remaining tigers. Chinese medicine claims that nearly every part of the tiger has healing powers, from tiger eyeballs for epilepsy to tiger whiskers for tooth aches. Unsurprisingly, these are unscientific and unsubstantiated claims, and trade in tiger parts is illegal. Nonetheless, a dead tiger can fetch up to $20k on the black market.
Thankfully, there are several major conservation efforts underway to help protect the Sumatran Tiger, including agencies like the Indonesian Forestry service working in tandem with private companies and non-profit conservation organizations.
At the moment, there are more Sumatran Tigers in captivity (361), than likely exist in the wild (approx. 350), so captive breeding programs are also key --- though it is sad to think of these creatures in cages. Hopefully it will be in the not too distant future that many of these captive animals can be returned to the wild, into a safe and managed habitat, where they can breed and thrive.
