The World Wildlife Federation (WWF) says it has captured footage of rare sumatran tigers and their cubs in a forest in Indonesia where logging is planned.

The conservation group is urging companies to abandon plans to clear the area as there are fewer than 400 sumatran tigers left in the wild.

Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been under pressure from environmentalists to implement a promised two-year moratorium on the clearing of forests, which was due to begin in January.

The video, recorded in March and April, shows two mothers with four cubs and another six of the critically endangered big cats in the Bukit Tigapuluh wildlife reserve in eastern Sumatra.

WWF tiger researcher Karmila Parakkasi says it is the highest concentration of tiger images WWF has ever obtained.

The WWF said the 12 tigers were concentrated in locations with good forest cover, including in a land concession belonging to Barito Pacific Timber, which it described as a wood supplier to regional giant Asia Pulp and Paper (APP).

"This video confirms the extreme importance of these forests in the Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem and its wildlife corridor," the WWF's forest and species programme director Anwar Purwoto said.

"WWF calls for all concessions operating in this area to abandon plans to clear this forest and protect areas with high conservation value," he added, urging authorities to manage the zone "as part of Indonesia's commitments to protecting biodiversity".

There are fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, among a global tiger population of just 3,200 - down from 100,000 a century ago.

WWF spokeswoman Desmarita Murni said that Jakarta designated the Bukit Tigapuluh area as one of six priority tiger conservation zones during last year's Tiger Summit in Russia.

"They have to ensure that its commitment is well implemented," she told AFP.

APP denied WWF's claims that Barito Pacific Timber is its subsidiary or supplier. "It's not related whatsoever with our group," a spokeswoman said.

Barito Pacific Timber could not be reached for comment.

- AFP

Editor's note (May 10): This story has been amended to clarify that the assertion that Barito Pacific Timber is a supplier to APP was made by WWF. It also now includes comment from APP.