IPOH: What started as a study of tiny moths led a Polish entomologist and her filmmaker husband deep into the Royal Belum rainforest, where their focus shifted to the critically endangered Malayan tiger.
Marta Skowron Volponi, 36, began her scientific expedition in Taman Negara back in 2012, where she discovered the scarlata nirvana, a striking red clearwing moth species.
She first visited Royal Belum in 2018 after being introduced to the area by a Malaysian friend.
She later teamed up with her husband, Paolo Volponi, combining research and filmmaking to support conservation and education efforts.
Her visit only lasted two days, but she was captivated by Royal Belum’s lakes, hilltop forests and largely unexplored surroundings.
“My research took an unexpected turn when I found Malayan tiger footprints in the same habitat where I discovered the moths,” she said in an interview.
Marta said she and Paolo began documenting the lives of those on the conservation frontlines, threats facing the tiger and the fragile ecosystem.
Using remote cameras and accompanying anti-poaching teams into the forest, the couple captured rare glimpses of Malayan tigers and other elusive wildlife while documenting conservation efforts in Royal Belum, one of the world’s oldest rainforests.
Their pursuit faced several setbacks – the Covid-19 pandemic, Paolo falling ill and Marta suffering a jungle accident – before filming resumed last year.
Marta said they worked with park rangers, including Orang Asli ranger Mazlan Enjok, who has spent more than a decade protecting Royal Belum.
“Witnessing the removal of snares and hearing accounts of tiger poaching in 2018 made me realise the seriousness of threats facing wildlife in Royal Belum.
“Anti-poaching efforts were strengthened that year, with authorities increasing ranger numbers and working with NGOs.
“Rangers patrolled the forest for signs of poaching and removed snares,” she said.
Paolo, 58, documented the rangers’ efforts, which Marta said often went unnoticed despite their importance.
This ultimately shifted their focus to the wider rainforest conservation crisis, centred on the Malayan tiger, which is native to the peninsula.
Marta said their documentary, titled The Tiger Spirit, was aimed at audiences from all backgrounds, including those not normally interested in wildlife.
She said the focus should extend beyond the Malayan tiger to the wider rainforest ecosystem, with deforestation remaining deeply troubling.
“Sometimes I feel like crying when I see huge trees coming out of the forest on trucks,” she said.
Paolo said their conservation focus shifted in 2022 after African swine fever severely reduced wild boar, a key prey species for Malayan tigers.
The decline disrupted the food chain, forcing predators to venture out of the rainforest and increasing road kills and human-wildlife conflict, including attacks on livestock.
“The documentary aims to show not only the threats facing the Malayan tiger, but also the beauty of the animal and its forest habitat.
“Our remote cameras have captured the tigers displaying individual behaviour, as well as that of elephants, sun bears, dholes, Malayan tapirs, clouded leopards, black panthers, and golden and marbled cats.
“Footage includes a graceful female tiger nicknamed the ‘Slender Tigress’, filmed hesitating at a muddy river before leaping across it, with another of a large male tiger looking directly at the camera unperturbed,” said Paolo, who has worked as a wildlife and conservation photographer for 20 years and produced stories for National Geographic Poland.
He said the documentary was not only intended to show the tiger in distress, but also the beauty of the forest and the animals still living in it.
Marta and Paolo are vice-chairman and chairman, respectively, of the Clearwing Foundation for Biodiversity in Poland, which was set up in 2017 and counts a Malaysian among its co-founders.
The 90-minute documentary is expected to be completed for airing next year.
