In the 1950’s, the population of the Malayan Tiger was estimated at 3,000. In 2019, Malaysia’s First National Tiger Survey revealed less than 150 Malayan Tigers roaming in the wild, making it critically endangered. The significant reduction in numbers was due to illegal poaching, habitat loss, and decline in prey over the years.
In conjunction with International Tiger Day, an annual celebration held on July 29, aimed to raise awareness on tiger conservation, Twentytwo13 spoke to wildlife conservation expert Shah Redza Hussein.
Shah Redza and his team currently help manage the operations of the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve through Enggang Management Services. Shah Redza serves as chief executive officer.
Established, in 2023, the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve has expanded the sanctuary for the Malayan Tiger. Pahang has designated approximately 134,000 hectares of forest, contiguous with Taman Negara National Park’s southern boundary as the first Tiger Reserve in Southeast Asia.
A former Perak State Parks Corporation director, Shah Redza previously worked with Menraq, a Jahai Orang Asli forest patrol unit in the Royal Belum State Park that helps protect the Malayan Tiger. A brainchild of the Perak State Parks Corporation and non-governmental organisation Rimau, Menraq was set up in 2019.
He was named the 2020 Global Winner of the Dr Rimington Award, by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Tigers Alive Initiative for his outstanding contribution to the conservation of tigers.
He shares some of the efforts undertaken by various stakeholders in recent years to help prevent the Malayan Tiger from going extinct.
Are our Malayan Tigers better protected now in the wild, compared to before?
Shah Redza: We have made tremendous progress over the last five years. We have seen a marked improvement in terms of tiger protection, and a decline in poaching activities. The number of poachers entering our forest is no longer what it used to be pre-2019 – which was when it was at its peak.
What brought about these changes?
Shah Redza: The federal and state governments have stepped up initiatives. The Wildlife Department (Perhilitan) has also stepped up in terms of the protection of the tiger habitats. The government has allocated extra funding for patrolling via Perhilitan. Poaching is not as aggressive as before mainly because there are more efforts on the ground, in terms of patrolling. What started as 1,000 community rangers nationwide have doubled to 2,000 rangers, mainly made up of the Orang Asli (indigenous people).
Are the local indigenous people the best people for this job?
Shah Redza: They are there (in the forest) all the time. While others patrol as and when they are scheduled, the Orang Asli are the best as they live in the landscape. If you train them, motivate them and help them create a livelihood out of protection work, they become the best people (for the job).
Have we done enough in the last five years?
Shah Redza: While there has been a reduction in snares and poaching activities, it does not mean we have eliminated the problem. We have to continue to be vigilant as there are still strong signs that they (the poachers) have been around, post Covid-19. It is just that they may not be as aggressive as before.
Can you tell us how Enggang is helping the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve?
Shah Redza: Enggang is managing and operating the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve. It is the first tiger reserve in the country, adjacent to Taman Negara. We are operationalising the reserve on behalf of the Pahang state, and the Tengku Makhota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah. The main thrust of this reserve is to assist in the national tiger recovery plan. This tiger reserve is part of a critical range (from Royal Belum, to Banjaran Titiwangsa, right in the forested areas of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang).
Given the efforts that have been carried out in the last five years, what are the chances of survival for the Malayan Tiger?
Shah Redza: A good point to note is the First National Tiger Survey, which ended in 2019. We are now in the monitoring phase after the 2019 census – where we discovered the Malayan Tiger numbers were critically low. Following intervention and efforts taken after 2019, the Wildlife Department is now monitoring the situation all over the country, within tiger range areas with the help of camera traps. The (tiger) population looks stable but we need to know for sure to find out if the numbers have further declined or if it has stabilised. What we want is a repopulation (of tigers) and chances are higher if the numbers are stable. We fear if the numbers decline further from 150, this will not be viable for repopulation.
