THERE have been many stories recently about how the Malayan Tiger numbers in the wild are fast declining.
But with so many recent sightings, is our local big cat really going extinct?
Verdict:
TRUE
It’s an unfortunate truth that Malaysia’s beloved big cat and national animal is going extinct.
According to the first National Tiger Survey 2016 - 2020, there were less than 200 tigers left in the wild.
When asked in Parliament about the reasons, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar attributed loss of natural habitat due to deforestation among the main reasons for the dwindling tiger population.
With so few tigers left and more and more jungle is logged, if nothing is done to prevent its extinction, Wan Junaidi expects the species to disappear very soon.
“Based on these figures, we will lose the species within the next five to 10 years if no extraordinary action is taken to save them,” he said.
Habitat loss is also one of the reasons why there have been several sightings over the last few months, namely wild tigers are being forced to come into contact with people as the animals are literally being driven out of the forests.
In December, there were sightings of tigers in Pos Bihai, Kelantan, that culminated in a man being mauled to death and a tiger being shot on Jan 7.
An environmental activist group later used a drone to show the extent of logging conducted around Pos Bihai.
“We believe there are massive logging activities taking place near the village,” said Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam adviser Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman.
“Tigers used to be afraid of humans, but not any more. Maybe they have been pushed to desperation by habitat loss,” he added.
For a species which numbers less than 200, the loss of one individual is a major setback to conservation efforts.
While some tiger species will seek out humans to hunt, such as those in India’s Sundarbans, the Malayan Tiger (Panthera Tigris Jacksoni) is typically wary of humans.
“A Malayan tiger will not go near, but will run away when it is in conflict with humans or smells them,” Kelantan Wildlife and National Parks (Wildlife) Department director Mohamad Hafid Rohani told Bernama.
He added that Malayan tigers will only attack humans if they are threatened, such as being hunted, or if they are starving and have nothing else to hunt.
According to him, a total of 63 reports on tigers were received by the Kelantan Wildlife between 2015 and 2021 and none involved humans mauled to death by a tiger.
References:
2. https://www.thestar.com.my/
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