The Malayan tiger is on the brink of extinction as a spate of deaths is alarming, according to wildlife conservationists, CNN said.
The cat subspecies, which lives in the jungles of peninsular Malaysia, is facing extinction, with fewer than 150 specimens in the wild believed to be left due to habitat loss, poaching and declining prey numbers. In addition, the tiger species features on Malaysia’s coat of arms and carries a national heritage symbol. Tigers are smaller than Sumatran tigers in Indonesia and Bengal tigers found in South Asia. They can reach a length of about 2.5 metres and weigh up to 130 kilograms.
Henry Chan, director of conservation at the World Wildlife Fund Malaysia (WWF), said more conservation efforts are necessary, such as increased patrols in critical tiger habitats and the use of advanced technology like camera traps and drones for monitoring and surveillance. He stated:
These magnificent creatures continue to teeter on the brink of extinction. Losing just one tiger brings the entire species closer to extinction, making every individual tiger’s life extremely critical to the survival of the species.
Numbers have declined sharply since the 1950s, when about 3,000 individuals roamed this southeast Asian country. In addition, authorities say four Malayan tigers died as a result of a collision with a vehicle in the period between November 2023 and May 2024.
In the eight-year National Action Plan for Tiger Conservation, published in collaboration with non-profit organisations in 2020, Malaysian authorities outlined priorities such as conservation tools and a “National Physical Plan” to facilitate conservation efforts.
“By implementing a suite of concerted actions, backed by political commitment and public support, we as a nation and as part of the global conservation community can ensure that one of the most majestic and charismatic animals with which we share the planet will not vanish,” the report said.
