It’s the year of the tiger, but it’s doom for the Malayan tiger

 

Only about 150 Malayan tigers remain and the population is unlikely to survive the next 100 years, says a biologist.

PETALING JAYA: While many believe in Chinese zodiac signs as portents of prosperity, the fate of the Malayan tiger remains bleak in the Year of the Tiger.

“The current net population of the Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksonii) is doomed, says wildlife biologist Kae Kawanishi.

She told FMT that Malaysia has lost 90% of its tiger population in the past 70 years. The Malayan tiger, which is Malaysia’s national symbol, is one of nine subspecies of the tiger, of which four have gone extinct in that period.

The Malayan tiger could be next, she said. Fewer than 150 tigers remain. Given the population trend over 100 years, the Malayan tiger would be very less likely to survive the next 100 years.

MYCAT wildlife biologist Kae Kawanishi.

“Tiger numbers are stable or recovering in a few localities that have been intensively patrolled over the past decade,” she added. She said the number of tigers could bounce back if the forests were protected and deforestation was stopped as in other countries.

However, because tigers require large healthy forests, protection of the Malayan tiger would require a buy-in from state governments, who have control over land. “I doubt any state government will give up their power to cash in on the forests unless they are compensated in cash,” she said.

She said there had been talk of a government initiative to conserve the species in which the federal government allocates funds to the state governments to preserve nature, but the transparency is lacking and nothing had materialised so far.

While the situation was looking rather gloomy for the tigers, Kawanishi said there was a greater awareness of the extinction of the tigers and environmental issues in general.

Asked about measures taken to prevent the species from going extinct, she praised the Wildlife and National Parks Department’s joint enforcement patrol efforts with the police, and the efforts of NGOs and citizen conservationists.

“However, there is no point in talking about drastic measures any more at this point in the tiger’s evolutionary history,” she said.

Although it was a little bit too late to save tigers from extinction, Kawanishi urged the public to play their part in protecting healthy forests.

“Don’t buy any products made of endangered wildlife. Instead, educate yourself from credible sources on how our and future generations’ livelihood depends on a healthy planet. Learn about how your lifestyle and political choices affect Malaysia’s forests and other natural environments. Even after tigers go extinct, forest conservation must continue.”

Anyone interested in protecting the tigers and their forests by participating in guided surveillance patrols can sign up with the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT). More information is available at its website www.citizenactionfortigers.my. - FMT