Going, going, gone: Malaysia's wildlife loses battle against extinction

Lost and found (from left): The Malayan tiger whose numbers are down to between 250 and 340 in the wild; Plectostoma sciaphilum - the Malaysian micro snail that was declared extinct in 2014 and made news headlines around the world; and a newly-discovered species of frog, Hylarana centropeninsularis.

From 'microjewel' snails to the magnificent Tok Belang, the past year marks another sad chapter in the tale of our country’s vanishing biodiversity. (This report has been updated with corrections – Editor)

Among the many subplots of humanity’s great symphonic rise to power and domination here on Earth is the pathetic wheeze that represents the depletion of the planet’s biodiversity. While extinction of species is more or less expected in the grand narrative of evolution, there’s something truly disturbing about the natural world’s recent decline.