Photographer’s Extended Journey in Sumatra to Capture the Furtive Tiger
Fueled by his enthusiasm for tigers, photographer Vladimir Cech Jr. dedicated four years to exploring the jungles of Southeast Asia to obtain images of the elusive Sumatran tiger. This critically endangered species is seldom captured in its natural habitat, yet Cech’s perseverance—and the use of camera traps—turned his aspiration into reality. The resulting collection of photographs offers a captivating glimpse into life beneath the jungle canopy, revealing a realm that frequently remains hidden.
Cech embarked on his endeavor in 2019, investing significant time and effort into it, even during the challenging periods of COVID-19. By setting up homemade DSLR camera traps, he aimed to document the reticent Sumatran tiger, but this was more difficult than he had anticipated. While the camera traps recorded many of the jungle’s creatures, he repeatedly found himself without a tiger sighting. However, all that shifted in the autumn of 2024.
“I thought I was dreaming,” he mentions to My Modern Met as he reminisces about the moment he first spotted the tiger on film. All of his hard work had blossomed, allowing him to achieve his objective of highlighting the Sumatran tiger and its struggles.
This tiger, the smallest remaining subspecies, has experienced a substantial reduction in its habitat and confronts serious threats. Poaching and habitat destruction are significant contributing factors. Deforestation for oil palm plantations is especially destructive, as these tigers favor expansive, untouched forest areas to flourish. Although many tigers inhabit protected lands, poaching remains a harsh reality, particularly as their bones and other body parts are still utilized in Eastern medicine.
While Cech’s series has not gone as viral as he had hoped, he remains optimistic about its potential impact. “Hopefully, it will reach the audience that the Sumatran tiger deserves.” In the meantime, he continues his documentation efforts in Sumatra and is developing a new project to pursue another of his big aspirations. Stay tuned and follow Vladimir Cech Jr. on Instagram to discover what he’s working on during this secret mission.
Since 2019, Vladimir Cech Jr. has been journeying to Indonesia with the aim of photographing the Sumatran tiger.
This critically endangered tiger is indigenous only to the forests of Sumatra.
Cech has been setting up homemade camera traps for years and has successfully captured various forest inhabitants.
But it wasn’t until the fall of 2024 that he finally caught sight of the elusive tiger.
Vladimir Cech Jr.: [Website](https://www.vladimircechml.cz/en/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/vladimir_cech_jr/) | [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/VladimirCechJr)
*My Modern Met* granted permission to showcase photos by Vladimir Cech Jr.
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