IPOH: To conserve the critically endangered Malayan tiger while promoting eco-tourism and awareness in Perak, the “Roar of Legacy” campaign has been launched.
Recent statistics indicated that fewer than 150 Malayan tigers remain in the wild, making them one of the most endangered species in the world, according to Perak tourism, industry, investment and corridor development committee chairman Loh Sze Yee.
“Poaching, habitat destruction and human-wildlife conflicts have placed immense pressure on their population.”
He added that efforts undertaken through the campaign are crucial in ensuring the survival of this national treasure.
Loh said the joint initiative between Tourism Perak Management Bhd and World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) represents a long-term commitment to strengthening eco-tourism and conservation in the state.
Eco-tourism, he noted, is a key segment of Perak’s tourism industry, ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.
He also said Perak is fortunate to be blessed with extraordinary natural wealth, including the 130 million-year-old Royal Belum tropical rainforests that serve as habitats and shelters for endangered species such as the Indian elephant, white-handed gibbon, Malayan sun bear, tapir and Malayan tiger.
“The preservation of these natural assets is our shared responsibility, and it also presents a great opportunity for us to enhance Perak’s tourism sector by introducing more sustainable and high-quality tourism products.
“The ‘Roar of Legacy’ campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of Malayan tiger conservation and its ecosystem.
“Some of the key steps include introducing conservation-based tourism programmes, expanding environmental education activities, and promoting responsible tourism practices among tourists and industry players,” he said in his speech before witnessing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony at the Tourism Perak office here yesterday.
Tourism Perak chief executive officer Nurmalis Musa and WWF-Malaysia interim CEO Nik Izuan Nik Mohammed signed the MOU.
Also present were WWF-Malaysia’s “Roar of Legacy” campaign co-adviser Datuk Gan Tack Kong, and Perak State Park Corporation interim director Lau Ching Fong.
Loh added that as one of Malaysia’s top eco-tourism destinations, Perak is home to numerous valuable natural sites, including Royal Belum State Park, Perak State Park, Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, Bangau Island, and many other biodiversity-rich areas that attract both local and international tourists.
He said the goal of the collaboration is not only to increase the Malayan tiger population but also to ensure that its surrounding ecosystem remains well-protected.
“With strong support from all parties, I am confident that these efforts will yield positive and long-lasting results,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lau said that since 2016, 238 active snare traps have been destroyed at the Royal Belum forest.
He said there was a snare crisis during a period between 2016 and 2017, but with the dedicated anti-poaching team known as Stampede, consisting mainly of the local Orang Asli, as well as with some 500 cameras placed to monitor poaching activities, there were zero snares as of last year.
Lau said the snares could be for trapping small animals such as wild chickens to bigger animals like elephants.
“During the poaching crisis, the traps were specifically targeted at larger animals, including Malayan tigers,” he added.
