Medan. The Environment and Forestry Minister, Siti Nurbaya, released two Sumatran Tigers named Ambar Goldsmith and Beru Situtung into the Mount Leuser National Park in Aceh on Wednesday. 

During the release, Minister Siti added the name "Goldsmith" to one of the tigers, renaming her Ambar Goldsmith. Ambar Goldsmith, a female tiger aged approximately 5.5 to 6 years, hailed from the village of Bukit Mas in Langkat Regency. The release was conducted in collaboration with Lord Goldsmith, Senior Fellow at Bezos Earth Fund and former UK Minister of State for Overseas Territories, Commonwealth, Energy, Climate, and Environment. Sumatran Tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) are a protected species.

Minister Siti emphasized the critical role of Sumatran Tigers in maintaining ecosystem balance. She stated that these tigers, along with other species such as rhinos, elephants, and orangutans, are internationally recognized as strategic indicators of the health of Indonesia's forests and environments.

In a unique twist, Minister Siti revealed that Lord Goldsmith's daughter shares a similar name with one of the tigers, Ambar. "I told him that this must be your Ambar," Minister Siti said, inadvertently connecting the tiger's name to Lord Goldsmith's family.

Lord Goldsmith expressed surprise at the coincidence, mentioning that he had no prior knowledge of a tiger named Ambar. He joyfully shared his intention to tell his daughter about the tiger with a name resembling hers.

The release, conducted using three helicopters from the Indonesian Air Force, North Sumatra Police, and the Ministry, aimed to rescue the tigers from human-wildlife conflicts. The tigers had undergone rehabilitation to regain their wild instincts.

Ambar Goldsmith had been captured by the Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) on Dec. 21, 2022. After temporary care at the Sumatran Rescue Alliance (SRA) facility, Ambar Goldsmith was moved to the Sumatran Tiger Sanctuary in Barumun Nagari for further observation.

The second tiger, Beru Situtung, a female estimated to be 3-4 years old, was rescued from residents in the Kluet Tengah Protected Forest, South Aceh Regency. After receiving care at the Tapak Tuan-Aceh Selatan National Park Management Office, Beru Situtung was transferred to the Barumun Sumatran Tiger Sanctuary for intensive care before the release.

The release site, located in the Lubuk Tanggok forest block in Mount Leuser National Park, was chosen based on habitat suitability studies conducted in 2022. Minister Siti highlighted Mount Leuser National Park as a global conservation hotspot hosting four flagship species - tigers, rhinos, elephants, and orangutans.

The release site's topography, situated at approximately 45 meters above sea level with well-preserved forest cover, was deemed suitable for the tigers' reintegration. The area exhibited minimal human activity, with signs of potential prey and Sumatran tiger tracks found in the vicinity.

Minister Siti was accompanied by several high-ranking officials during the release, including the Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, the Director General of Sustainable Forest Management, the Chief of Police for North Sumatra, and other key figures from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.