THE MALAYAN TIGER
THE MALAYAN TIGER
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TIGER LANDSCAPES
TIGER LANDSCAPES
Unique to the Malayan Peninsula, the Malayan Tiger (Panthera Tigris Jacksoni) is named after a renowned tiger conservationist Peter Jackson, in honour of his work for tigers. The Malayan Tiger is a unique subspecies and is one of the smallest in the world.
A nation-wide tiger survey was carried out between 2016-2020 to determine where and how many tigers still lived in our rainforest. The data recorded less that 150 tigers. The Malayan tiger is now currently listed in the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered (the highest category of threat).
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.
The Malayan tiger is a symbol of courage and strength and is represented not only on our national crest but also on many other emblems in the country. Scientists say that tigers are at an existential"tipping point"- a critical time when unless significant protection is put in place, tigers could all soon face extinction in the wild. Malaysians and the world must come together to help save the Malayan tiger.
Tigers are crucial keystone species that maintain the habitat and food web structure for hundreds of smaller animals and thousands of plant species. Their loss can affect the ecosystem services that are critical to human survival. The tiger is territorial and needs large areas of rainforest to roam. It hunts alone and its preferred meal is the sambar deer. Tigers can give birth to two to four cubs and the young will stay with their mother until they are two years old before setting off to find their own territories within the rainforest.
PROTECTION OF THE MALAYAN TIGER.
PROTECTION OF THE MALAYAN TIGER.
The tiger has been considered a totally protected species under Malaysia’s wildlife legislation since 1976 and commercial trade is prohibited by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Currently, once convicted, tiger poachers, traders and consumers are liable to a fine to up to RM1,000,000 as well as a jail term of up to fifteen years under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
In 2008, the country launched the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan to double tiger numbers to 1,000 by 2020. Unfortunately, Malaysia failed to implement a majority of the 80 actions listed in the plan.
After the disastrous initial results coming from the National Tiger Survey indicating that there were less than 150 tigers in the wild, the country introduced the National Biodiversity Operations (OBK) programme and established an enforcement team comprising Malaysia Armed Forces (Vet) and Orang Asli (OA) and know as VETOA. In 2021, the Malaysia Tiger Task Force (MyTTF) was established and listed nine general actions to be taken, however a more detailed plan for recovery has yet to be released.
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