Tiger Rehabilitation
Rehabilitating and protecting Sumatran tigers since 2007, rescued from parts of Indonesia where they face significant danger, with the aim of releasing them back into the wild.
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South Bukit Barisan National Park · Lampung, Sumatra
A remote forest at the southern tip of Sumatra
48,153 hectares of forest and 14,089 hectares of marine reserve, operated and managed by the Artha Graha Peduli Foundation since 1996.
Location
Southern tip of Sumatra, Lampung
Within
South Bukit Barisan National Park
Protected since
1996
Managed by
Artha Graha Peduli Foundation
The area
Lowland rainforest, coast, and marine reserve under one management
TWNC encompasses 48,153 hectares of forest, part of the 365,000-hectare South Bukit Barisan National Park, along with approximately 14,089 hectares of marine reserve. Located at the southern tip of Sumatra, it is a very remote area — which is what makes it ideal for wildlife protection.
The region consists of lowland tropical rainforests, coastal forests, mangrove forests, lakes, freshwater marshes, and lowland secondary forests — all of it still well covered, and all of it managed as a single protected area.
48,153 ha
Hectares of forest
14,089 ha
Hectares of marine reserve
187
Bird species recorded
63
Reptile species recorded
58
Sumatran tigers identified
What we do
Four areas of work inside the reserve
Research & Monitoring
Working with scientists and universities from around the world to study the rainforest and every species in TWNC, alongside Panthera, a foundation dedicated to big cats.
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Community Development
Working with neighbouring communities for over fifteen years — rice and coffee plantation projects, and schooling for the next generation so they can return home and continue the work.
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Ecotourism
Engaging with visitors in responsible travel to increase awareness about environment conservation, while supporting indigenous cultures and economies.
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Flagship program
Fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild
Fifty-eight of them have been identified inside Tambling. Tigers caught in conflict with people in regions such as Jambi and Aceh are brought here to recover — wounds treated, behaviour monitored, hunting instincts restored — and released back into the forest once they are ready.
<400
estimated left in the wild
58
identified inside Tambling
7
released back to the wild
Biodiversity
Species directory
The reserve's forests, wetlands, and reefs hold 187 recorded bird species and 63 reptiles, alongside the tigers, elephants, and primates that bring researchers here from around the world. Filter by group to see what lives inside Tambling.
8 species
Mammal
Sumatran Tiger
Panthera tigris sumatrae Critically Endangered
Mammal
Sumatran Elephant
Elephas maximus sumatranus Critically Endangered
Mammal
Siamang
Symphalangus syndactylus Endangered
Bird
Rhinoceros Hornbill
Buceros rhinoceros Vulnerable
Reptile
Saltwater Crocodile
Crocodylus porosus Least Concern
Reptile
Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas Endangered
Butterfly
Common Birdwing
Troides helena CITES App. II
Flora
Boat Orchid
Species to be confirmed Not evaluated
The turning point
Illegal hunting, logging, and fishing once reduced this forest by twenty percent.
Since 2001, there have been no illegal activities in Tambling.
Landmark
The Vlakkenhoek Lighthouse
The tower stands at the southern edge of the reserve and is Tambling's most recognisable landmark — the point where the forest stops and the sea begins.
“People who find profit by destroying nature and wildlife need to be penalized severely. Because he is destroying nature, he is destroying the earth. If we want to protect nature, secure and patrol the forest, we have to do it earnestly.”
Tomy Winata · Founder of AGP
News & events
From the reserve
Seiko Indonesia and TWNC Collaborate to Support Sumatran Tiger Conservation
Seiko launched the limited edition Seiko 5 Sports Indonesia Exclusive 3rd Limited Edition, the result of a collaboration supporting Sumatran tiger conservation.
TWNC Supports ‘USA in JKT’ for 75 Years of Indonesia–US Relations
The United States Embassy in Jakarta marked the 75th anniversary of bilateral cooperation between the two countries with a special event.
Global Tiger Day 2024 with Artha Graha Peduli
AGP and TWNC marked Global Tiger Day 2024 with an event themed around natural harmony and the protection of the Sumatran tiger.
What they say
What They Say About TWNC
Congratulations to the whole site team in protecting the world heritage property “The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra”. Keep on the good work!
High-end limited tourism.
Develop a model for longer-term financial sustainability of park operations and maintenance.
Congratulations and many thanks for your commitment in favor of the world nature.
In my Indonesian and Asian experience, this area is managed with a vision for a future, as is no other. This is a recovering natural system, and as such it is a model of environmental sustainability in a time when environmental governance is widely failing in the face of global economic expansion.
I am impressed with AGP’s commitment to and support of this important conservation area. In particular, the monitored translocation of conflict tigers is a very important contribution to tiger conservation — the scientific knowledge gained will be invaluable in planning future conflict resolution activities.
With the release of conflict tigers, you have set a world example how conflict tiger can be dealt with. Some research on these tigers will bring valuable information that can be copied elsewhere.
I was also very impressed with the tiger release area. This was very well designed and the tigers appear to be in excellent condition. The monitoring of the tigers after release show that these are the first successful translocations on record in Indonesia.
Something nice happened in Tambling. Tomy, he is trying to do the right things and I think he actually do the right things.
Some people say that we should focus only on human beings not animals as our first priority. But this excellent model of rehabilitation in Sumatra show that we can do both. In fact, we need to do both if we are to save our planet and our chance for survival in a time of accelerating climate change.
My first thing comment native is about the air, you can’t believe how delicious the air, and I thankful to relish us to the beautiful air in here. Still unbelievable, inspiring what he’s doing (Tomy Winata). It’s all about to save the world.