KOTA BHARU: The African swine fever outbreak has been identified as a major threat to the population of wild boars and bearded pigs, which are the main food sources for the Malayan tigers in the Endau-Rompin Landscape, Johor.
The ASF outbreak has also affected other wildlife and human communities living near the forest area.
Malaysian Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) researcher Yugess Rao said the AF virus, which was first detected in 2022, has caused an abrupt decline in the population of wild boars and bearded pigs.
Her research, using over 300 camera traps in the entire area, recorded a significant decline in the pig population, including the discovery of 11 wild boar and seven bearded pig carcasses in 2022.
"Camera data from 2019 to 2023 shows a population decline of 99.6% for bearded pigs and 81.6% for wild boars.
"The lack of natural food sources has caused Malayan tigers to start adapting by looking for new food sources outside the forest, including attacking cattle owned by residents," she told Bernama at the Asian Society of Conservation Medicine Conference, here, recently.
She explained that this phenomenon increases the risk of conflict between humans and tigers, thus having an economic and psychological impact on local communities who have lost their livestock, and feel threatened.
"To address the issue, WCS Malaysia has implemented various measures, including disease monitoring, community involvement and the construction of tiger-proof cattle enclosures,” she said.
She also proposed plans that include habitat enrichment and increasing the availability of natural prey, subject to sufficient funding sources.
According to her, a WCS study in 2024 showed signs of recovery when new births for the pig and tiger populations began to be recorded.
"Incidents of tiger attacks on humans and livestock also recorded a significant drop between 2024 and 2025,” she said.
Yugess stressed the importance of future conservation strategies being comprehensively and integratedly implemented, encompassing ecological, economic and social aspects, to ensure the survival of the Malayan tigers as well as harmony between humans and nature in the Endau Rompin Landscape.
In October, the Asian Society of Conservation Medicine (ASCM) 2025 was held in Kota Bharu, bringing together about 200 scientists, veterinarians, academics, researchers and policymakers from 15 countries.
The first-ever conference on the East Coast was jointly organised by Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, ASCM and the Wildlife and Exotic Veterinary Special Interest Group. - Bernama
