National tragedy: Wildlife groups are calling for harsher punishments for poaching following the discovery of the tiger’s carcass.
PETALING JAYA: Wildlife groups are outraged over the killing of a Malayan tiger in Johor on Malaysia Day, calling it a crime against nature and a national tragedy.
Three men were arrested yesterday after the tiger’s carcass, believed to have been illegally hunted, was found in a vehicle during a raid at Felda Tenggaroh in Mersing.
Wildlife groups are urging authorities to impose the maximum punishment under the law on the poachers and take immediate steps to improve anti-poaching efforts.
Tiger Protection Society of Malaysia president Lara Ariffin described the killing of the Malayan tiger as “a national tragedy” and demanded justice.
“The symbol of our strength and courage was left crumpled in the back of a car, so what does this say about us as a nation? That people still believe it’s acceptable to hunt our tigers for profit?” she said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Lara also urged Malaysians to demand the harshest sentence and pressure the authorities to strengthen forest patrols.
“Remember that tigers protect us. They are apex predators that keep our rainforests in balance,” she added.
WWF-Malaysia senior conservation director Henry Chan said the killing of the Malayan tiger, the national icon of Malaysia, is a crime against nature and shameful to our country.
“These poachers must be punished with the full weight of the law – swift and uncompromising – to send an unmistakable message that we will not tolerate the slaughter of our national icon.
“Protecting this species is not just a conservation issue – it is about protecting Malaysia’s pride, heritage, and future,” he said in a statement.
He praised the public’s efforts in tipping off the authorities, which underscored the vital role of the public to remain vigilant and report wildlife crime.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meena Rama said the discovery of the tiger carcass showed that current anti-poaching efforts were not effective, as the true masterminds behind poaching are still at large.
“Investigations must be conducted thoroughly to reveal how this came about and who is behind this and they must also be apprehended, as those currently arrested are surely not the only ones involved,” she said.
She also urged for stronger cooperation with international wildlife agencies to better train and equip our forest rangers and anti-poaching officers.
Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia president Andrew Sebastian echoed that harsher punishment must be the norm to deter would-be poachers.
“Whistleblower rewards should also try to match the rewards given to those in the illegal poaching market if we want to truly eradicate the illegal animal trade black market,” he said.
Johor Malaysian Nature Society adviser Vincent Chow said the loss of even a single Malayan tiger could push the species dangerously close to extinction.
“For the tigers, finding a mate is already a challenge, let alone producing offspring that could help prevent extinction,” he said.
Meanwhile, Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the state government would not compromise on tiger poaching activities.
He said Johor would strengthen its law enforcement while also enhancing intelligence and monitoring in areas identified as high-risk to combat poaching and the wildlife trade.
He urged the public to continue to work together with the government by reporting information related to illegal hunting to the relevant authorities.
