Malaysia: Racing to save wild tigers

The Star 23 May 12;

A NEWLY released assessment of Malaysia’s efforts to save its wild tigers paints a picture of mounting pressure on the iconic animal and the need for drastic action now, to reverse its decline.

The analysis, published in MYCAT Tracks: Malaysia’s progress towards 1,000 wild tigers is part of a comprehensive look at efforts, progress and problems in the implementation of the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan (NTCAP) in 2010 and 2011.

The NTCAP is one of the most diligently monitored plans concerning wildlife in Malaysia involving close government-NGO collaboration.

Established in 2008, it is the national roadmap for the doubling of wild Malayan tigers by the year 2020 through better legal and on the ground protection for tigers and their prey, as well as reduction of human-tiger conflicts.

This report provides an honest and critical assessment of where conservation groups and government stand in the race to save the Malayan tiger, particularly on efforts and challenges faced in three priority areas identified in the NTCAP — the Belum-Temenggor Forest Complex in northern Perak; Taman Negara National Park and Sungai Yu Tiger Corridor in Pahang; and the Endau-Rompin Landscape in southern Pahang and Johor.

Despite the ban on deer hunting instituted by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) since 2009 and the state-wide hunting ban in Johor since 2010, indiscriminate use of snares in all three areas shows that tigers and prey are still under grave threat from poachers.

This is evidenced by the discovery of many poaching signs and close to 1,000 snares in these areas between 2010 and 2011 as well as the arrest of several poachers.

The assessment underlines the fact that four years into the NTCAP, illegal hunting and trade, driven by demand for wildlife from within and outside Malaysia remains the most devastating threat to the tiger and other endangered species. While highlighting the numerous shortcomings and problems, the assessment also lists a few gains.

The most significant of these is the passing of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 which closed loopholes created by the previous legislation, while substantially increasing penalties for wildlife offences and the protection for tigers, and tiger prey.

The assessment also discusses the Federal Cabinet’s adoption of the Central Forest Spine Master Plan that will help link fragmented forest complexes and secure tiger habitats, and the tremendous contributions of ordinary Malaysians who reported wildlife poaching and trafficking to MYCAT’s Wildlife Crime Hotline — 019-356 4194 / report@malayantiger.net