PETALING JAYA: The Malayan Tiger used to rule the tropical rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia, but today, it may not even survive another generation.
This is how dire the situation has become for the big cats.
Dr Mark Rayan Darmaraj, the tiger landscape lead for WWF-Malaysia (affiliated to World Wide Fund for Nature), said an estimated 3,000 tigers roamed the jungles in the 1950s.
“Today, the number has declined to fewer than 200. We must make it a national priority to protect these animals.”
Darmaraj said the WWF Malaysia’s area of priority is the Belum-Temenggor forest in Perak where the tiger population has declined by about 50% in the past 10 years.
He said tiger conservation continues to face challenges across the country’s tropical forest landscape with poaching the greatest and most substantial threat in the country.
“This is followed by loss of habitat and fragmentation of forests,” he said, adding that if these (threats) continue, Malaysia stands to lose its iconic symbol.
Two tigers are featured in the Coats of Arms of Malaysia symbol.
However, Darmaraj said, there is a need to step up on-ground enforcement to nab offenders.
To garner support for its effort to save the Malayan tiger, WWF Malaysia has launched a signature campaign “Tiger Pledge”. Those who wish to sign the pledge may do so at: https://www.wwf.org.my/about_wwf/earthhour_2020/
