Six plans to ensure tigers’ survival
STIFFER fines for poachers and six conducive plans prove the government’s seriousness in ensuring that the Malayan tiger will not become extinct in this country, said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
He said it is hoped the joint plan, involving the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry, other agencies and industry players, would be able to handle the Malayan tiger’s extinction crisis and raise the reputation and image of the oil palm industry from a sustainability aspect.
“We are focused and serious about ensuring that the tiger doesn’t go extinct. This is a shared responsibility and duty in curbing poaching.
“Therefore, we are amending the Wildlife Conservation Act (716) 2010 so that we can be more responsive to current developments and wildlife conservation efforts where we will increase penalties and fines for offenders.
“We know that there are irresponsible parties who traffic wildlife online. So the amendment will strengthen enforcement in combating the illegal activities,” Shamsul Anuar said at an event in Sungkai, Perak earlier this week.
The event saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding regarding the issue at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre, which was also attended by Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali, and representatives from Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Department of Wildlife and National Parks and Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conversation Foundation.
Elaborating on the long-term and short-term conservation plans for the Malayan tiger, Shamsul Anuar said they include:
1. A Malayan tiger breeding programme
2. A programme supporting the costs of five Malayan tiger cubs
3. Transferring Malayan tigers to the National Tiger Conservation Centre in Lanchang, Pahang
4. The re-wilding of Malayan tigers
5. Releasing Malayan tigers into the wild 6. Post-release monitoring of Malayan tiger
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At a separate event, Taiping Zoo and Night Safari director Dr Kevin Lazarus stressed the importance of the conservation of local wildlife, especially the Malayan tiger.
He said that Malayan tigers will go extinct in the next five to 10 years if no drastic action is taken to address its population decline.
Dr Lazarus added that breeding conservation and research on Malayan tigers are needed to prevent the extinction of the endangered species.
“We have programmes with Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) and zoos that have Malayan tigers for captive breeding programmes to increase the population of the animal.
“In this process, we will find a suitable partner and if the tigers need to be transferred, they will be transferred while other breeds will be moved here,” he said.
Dr Lazarus was speaking to reporters after a visit with the media in conjunction with the first birthday celebration of the Malayan tiger cubs at the Taiping Zoo.
He said Perhilitan also conducted tiger conservation programmes in the natural environment due to many threats in the forests such as poaching, biodiversity and loss of food.
“The breeding programme in collaboration with all zoos that have Malayan tigers in the country was carried out continuously for longterm breeding of the tigers.
“It is estimated that there are fewer than 200 Malayan tigers left in the wild which is an alarming state based on the National Tiger Survey, carried out from 2016 to 2020,” he added.
On April 12 last year, an 11-year-old tigress named Baby gave birth to three cubs. They were named Puntum (male), Teja and Bayu (females). This is the fourth birth of a Malayan tiger at the zoo.
Baby was also born at Taiping Zoo following a successful breeding in 2009.