TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The global environmental conservation organization WWF-Indonesia has used an art approach to protect Sumatran tigers, in its collaboration with young rapper Tuan Tigabelas from Sumatra to hold a concert at Mount Pancar in Bogor District, West Java, in the commemoration of Global Tiger Day on July 29.

WWF Indonesia in its statement on Sunday said it raised the tagline of "Sumatran tigers as the pride of Indonesia" and choose an art and cultural approach to awaken in public the pride toward the iconic species, based on fact that tigers often exist in works of art such as stories, songs, films and paintings.

WWF-Indonesia Partnership Director Ade Swargo Mulyo said the organization has collaborated with Tuan Tigabelas who had long been inspired by tigers in his works, to hold "Concert-vation: Concert and Conservation".

His concern over the fate of the Sumatran tigers (Panthera Tigris Sumatrae) has inspired him to make a music album titled Harimau Soematra and a song "Last Roar". Some of the money he obtained from the album sales were donated to help the Sumatran tiger conservation program.

WWF appreciated the real contribution of such musicians, Mulyo said.

There are only 11 countries that are native to tiger habitat, Indonesia is one of them. Tiger has long been an icon of Indonesia's pride, but two of the three tiger species in Indonesia are already extinct and now the remaining species is in critical status.

"This last hope must be maintained in any way, including a cultural approach," he said.

The musician, Tuan Tigabelas, who has his real name, Upi, said that as a Sumatran man, he often used the tiger analogy in his song lyrics.

"Starting from efforts to educate ourselves, read and find out about tigers, including from WWF-Indonesia. From there I learned the facts about the Sumatran Tiger which turned out to be very sad, "said Upi.

People used to live in harmony with nature and share space with tigers, so that balance is maintained. This message must continue to be echoed so that the existence of Sumatran tigers will last from generation to generation.

"We are obliged to provide proper protection for Sumatran tigers, for the benefit of mankind too, both present and future generations," he said.

Panthera Tigris Sumatrae is the last tiger of Indonesia, after the Bali Tiger and Java Tiger were extinct. Sumatran tigers are spread in small populations inside and outside conservation areas.

However, their existence are threatened due poaching, illegal trade and loss of habitat due to land conversion or climate change.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1996 has put Sumatran tiger on the Red List of Threatened Species.

ANTARA