Anti-poaching ranger teams composed of the indigenous Orang Asli people are playing a crucial role in the conservation of critically endangered cats, particularly the Malayan tiger. The Malayan tiger population has been severely affected by decades of hunting by poachers, resulting in approximately 150 tigers left in the wild, classified as critically endangered. In response, various organizations have launched anti-poaching ranger activities, encouraged community involvement, and highlighted the importance of these big cats for conservation efforts. This local effort reflects global concerns over the declining tiger population worldwide.
To raise awareness, Global Tiger Day or International Tiger Day is celebrated annually on July 29. This celebration began in 2010 during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit and serves as a reminder of the urgency to save the tiger species from extinction. Rimau, a tiger protection society, collaborates with other organizations, government agencies, and foundations to pool resources and expertise for effective conservation efforts. This year, Global Tiger Day was celebrated together with International Ranger Day at the Royal Belum State Park in Perak. The celebration involved the Jahai Orang Asli tribe, who are part of the Menraq patrol team formed by the Perak State Parks Corporation (PSPC) and Rimau.
Menraq, consisting of 30 Jahai men, became the first Malaysian team to win the IUCN WCPA International Ranger Awards 2023 for their exemplary achievement in community-led conservation of tigers. Rimau organized the celebration at Kem Menraq, which was attended by over 300 people from the Jahai tribe. Volunteers from different organizations trained Orang Asli children in dance performances that were presented to express gratitude for their commitment towards tiger conservation. The celebration also included games and prizes for the audience, promoting community participation in conservation efforts.
WWF-Malaysia’s Tiger Conservation Programme team leader Christopher Wong explained the significance of global tiger days. These celebrations aim to highlight wins in tiger conservation, honor anti-poaching rangers, and advocate for wider government commitments to protect the apex predator. WWF-Malaysia has been actively involved in protecting tigers by increasing the number of anti-poaching rangers from 12 in 2016 to 110 in 2022, resulting in zero active snares by 2022. These rangers patrol the forests, remove snares, collect poaching data, and share information with enforcement agencies for further action. The Royal Belum State Park has been awarded the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CATS), the first Malayan tiger habitat conservation accreditation in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
Patrolling has proven effective in helping tiger populations. The PSPC director Mohamed Shah Redza Hussein emphasized the importance of stabilizing the tiger population by stopping killing through patrolling. Once the killing is halted, the next phase involves rehabilitation, rejuvenation, and the creation of a safe habitat for tigers to breed. Wong added that anti-poaching rangers also conduct research and monitor ecological linkages to ensure successful conservation measures. Camera-traps are used to monitor the tiger population, allowing for accurate counts, population estimates, and conservation monitoring.
Tigers require uninterrupted forest areas to thrive, but habitat loss due to development and human encroachment poses a significant challenge. Perak state is working closely with the federal government to protect the Malayan tiger by setting aside an additional 340,000 hectares of forest as a tiger corridor. This measure aims to provide tigers with more uninterrupted forest areas for roaming and breeding, ensuring their survival in the long term.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
