Seeing Stripes

Roaming gracefully through the lush rainforests of Malaysia, the Malayan tigers embody the very essence of majesty and resilience. These remarkable creatures, with their vibrant orange coats adorned with distinctive black stripes, command our attention and captivate our hearts. Categorised as critically endangered, the Malayan tigers are not just magnificent symbols of wild beauty; they are also powerful ambassadors of conservation and the emblem of our nation.

Distinguished by our unwavering commitment to conserving our national animal, we showcase another testament to our triumphs: the captivating tale of a resilient mother and her thriving trio of cubs. These magnificent felines have thrived, revelling in robust health and playful antics. Guided by their vigilant mother, who fearlessly hunts for their sustenance and shields them from the perils of the forest, including the insidious poachers.

These poachers intrude into our beautiful, lush forest, stealthily setting traps with malicious intention to harm and kill the animals to fuel illegal trade. Their motivation lies solely in profit, caring little for the lives and the natural ecosystems they disrupt or extinguish. Every part of the tiger including claws, pelts, teeth, and bones, all become mere commodities to satisfy their insatiable greed and beliefs. To combat these illegal and profoundly detrimental activities, we have partnered with the local indigenous Orang Asli community in establishing anti-poaching initiatives - the Stampede project. Comprising 20 teams with more than 100 dedicated Orang Asli rangers, they patrol the tiger habitat and their target is to intimidate and serve as a deterrent against these poachers. Through their vigilant efforts, traps are dismantled, and the fragile ecosystem is protected, ensuring the harmonious balance within our natural world.

Recently, an incident unfolded in Kelantan, where Mek Blau, a female tiger weighing 80kg and estimated to be between four and five years old, fell victim to a poacher's snare. Trapped and injured, her left leg bore the brunt of this cruel encounter. Swift action was taken as 21 Perhilitan staff embarked on a mission to locate and rescue her. The determined staff braved through the bad weather and by noon, Mek Blau found herself safely ensconced in an enclosure, receiving the necessary medical attention.

While Mek Blau's rescue ended on a positive note, the fact that she was observed near human settlements prompts us to reflect on our collective responsibility to safeguard the natural food resources and habitats of Malayan tigers. An unfortunate example of our lack of collaboration in tandem with the diminishing habitat rears its ugly head just this week between a farmer, his cattle, and a once healthy adult male Malayan tiger. It was reported that the farmer was protecting his herd of cattle and had heard the sounds of struggle before letting loose a bullet in fear - This adverse encounter has caused the life of a Malayan tiger.

We must confront the realities of diminishing forest cover, driven by economic gain and the alluring guise of progress. The increase in recent encounters of wild Malayan tigers outside of their habitat should also prompt thorough investigation as to other possible compounding factors. These circumstances raise critical questions about whether we are doing enough to ensure the long-term survival of these majestic creatures and protect the delicate balance of nature upon which we all depend.

Preserving the Malayan tigers' habitat requires a multifaceted approach that combines conservation efforts, stricter law enforcement against poaching, sustainable land-use practices, and raising public awareness so both human and tiger remain unscathed. It is through these collective actions that we can foster a harmonious coexistence between human development and the protection of our natural heritage. As we push forward on our journey toward tiger conservation, we look back at the thriving trio of cubs frolicking in the forest, amused by our camera traps that take snapshots of their secret lives and hope to make sure they continue to roam our jungles.

This content is provided by WWF Malaysia