PETALING JAYA: Conservation efforts must move beyond preventing extinction and focus on creating the conditions for the species to recover naturally.
The country, said World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) tiger conservation programme head Azlan Mohamed, is at a critical stage in its efforts to boost the Malayan tiger population and this requires a comprehensive approach encompassing anti-poaching enforcement, scientific monitoring, habitat management and prey recovery.
“These are all essential components of ecosystem recovery because a tiger cannot survive on protection alone.
“It also needs healthy forests, abundant prey, connected habitats and the opportunity to breed.
“Protecting and reconnecting forests, restoring prey populations and maintaining healthy landscapes remain the most effective long-term ways of reducing conflict between people and wildlife,” he said, adding that the rise in Malayan tiger sightings and human-tiger encounters should not be taken as proof that the critically endangered species is making a comeback as these could just be signals that our forests and ecosystems are under threat.
The Malayan tiger is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, with fewer than 150 believed to remain in the wild in Malaysia, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Azlan said while poaching remains one of the most immediate threats, focusing on it alone meant overlooking the broader challenges facing the species.
The loss of even a single tiger has a significant impact on such a small population, he said.
Habitat fragmentation, declining prey populations, road mortality and increasing pressure on forest landscapes, Azlan added, are all interconnected.
“Even if poaching is reduced, tiger populations will struggle to recover if there is insufficient prey or if forests become too fragmented for tigers to move safely and establish territories,” he said.
Recovering the Malayan tiger requires a whole-of-society effort, with governments, businesses and the public all playing complementary roles, Azlan added.
“The government plays a vital role in strengthening protected area management, maintaining ecological connectivity between forests and ensuring wildlife laws are effectively enforced.
“The private sector can contribute by supporting sustainable land-use practices and long-term conservation partnerships that help restore ecosystems.”
