Sharing space with the tigers in Malaysia

Aidi Amin New Straits Times 24 Nov 10;

JELI: Life is all about coexisting with the wild for locals who have encountered and survived preying tigers.

Mek Jah Semail, 69, wrestled a tiger five years ago and survived to tell the tale as if it only happened yesterday.

"On that day, I felt stronger than ever and I thank God for letting me live. I was thrown on the ground but managed to release myself and held on to the nearest piece of wood," said Mek Jah, who sustained injuries to her head from the attack.

She had to walk several kilometres to seek treatment before fainting from loss of blood after the attack.

"The tiger may have caused me pain and trauma, but I do not hold any grudges. Instead, I thank it for reminding me how much I value life," said the widow.

Yusoff Mustafha, 64, who owns a coffee shop in Kampung Chegar Bedil, has lived here for 40 years. His encounter with a big cat was 20 years ago.

"I can still remember the tiger's face as if it wanted me to know that I was at its mercy.

"It was surreal, but I had to keep cool and not make any sudden moves that would excite these territorial animals."

He added that nowadays, the surrounding area was more developed and tiger sightings were a thing of the past.

The State Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), however, takes reports of tiger sightings seriously and will monitor the area for a month before declaring it safe.

"There are tigers living nearby but there are no reported sightings that would raise immediate concern for residents here," said one of its officers, Cos Mas Ngau.

He said his men would enter the jungle twice a month under its Tiger Action Plan held in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature to conduct patrols for tigers and poachers.

"Lately, our job revolves around protecting the tigers, which are endangered species. We act on the information from villagers who are our informants against poachers mostly from neighbouring countries."

He said, however, reports from the villagers could be mere rumours, adding that it was important for everyone to check with the department before spreading stories that would set villagers in a frenzy.

"The people will develop a phobia for tigers when in fact, these territorial animals roam within its terrain. If we continue to destroy its habitat, it would be unfair to refer to tigers as trespassers."

A century ago, some 100,000 tigers roamed the jungles of Asia. The number is now estimated at about 3,200, living in only seven per cent of their natural habitat.

On Sunday, during a tiger summit involving 13 world leaders in St Petersburg, Russia, US$350 million (RM1.09 billion) was proposed for a five-year Global Recovery Tiger Programme, to save the species from extinction.