1000 Tigers for Malaysia

20 January 2010, Kuala Lumpur – This is the Year of the Tiger, the year of hope for tigers in the wild. Tiger numbers are dwindling worldwide, but the Malayan tiger has the best chance not just of survival, but also of doubling its current numbers to 1000 by the year 2020.

To build a brighter future for tigers, the Malaysian Government, through the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, together with the Malaysian Nature Society, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Wildlife Conservation Society-Malaysia Programme and WWF-Malaysia, formulated the National Tiger Action Plan (TAP) in 2008 using the collaborative platform of the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT).

The target of the TAP, endorsed by the National Biotechnology and Biodiversity Council at its recent meeting chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, is to have 1000 tigers surviving in the Central Forest Spine; the 51,000 km2 backbone of Peninsular Malaysia’s environmentally sensitive area (ESA) network.

“The implementation of this visionary plan ensures not only that the tiger survives in the coming decades, but that it will increase in number,” said Dr Loh Chi Leong, Executive Director of the Malaysian Nature Society.

Malaysia is the most important tiger range country in Southeast Asia because it still has a sizeable wild tiger population and has blueprints for sustainable development such as the National Physical Plan. 2010 is also the Year of Biodiversity which presents a perfect opportunity to reaffirm the country’s commitment to the target of 1000 tigers surviving in the wild.

“Doubling Malaysia’s tiger numbers isn’t a job just for conservationists. We call for wider support from the public and private sector. There must be serious changes in consumer behaviour and an increase in support of government and NGO efforts. Everyone has a role to play” said Chris R. Shepherd, Acting Regional Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia.

Malaysia has the benefit of a forward thinking government. “Well before the declaration by other countries to double global tiger numbers, the Malaysian government had already taken that step,” said Dr Melvin Gumal, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society-Malaysia Programme.

“This is the best chance we have to seriously attempt to save tigers from extinction, mainly because of the National Tiger Action Plan and policies in place and the unprecedented cooperation between the government and NGO community.

With the eyes of the world upon the tiger this year, it is our chance to showcase Malaysia’s commitment towards the target of 1000 wild tigers,” said Datuk Dr Dionysius Sharma, Executive Director/CEO of WWF-Malaysia