PEKANBARU, Riau: Natural Resources Conservation Agency chairman Adi Susmianto said on Thursday that Sumatran tigers were on the verge of extinction, because of the uncontrolled killing of the rare and protected species.

"The Sumatran tiger will be extinct within 12 years unless concrete action is taken to stop the rampant poaching in their habitat on the island of Sumatra," he said during a seminar on the conflict between humans and wildlife.

Adi said that according to data from his office, some 33 Sumatran tigers are slaughtered each year. "And according to our estimates, there are only 500 Sumatran tigers left and some of them have been put in zoos, both at home and overseas."