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Royal Reserve Saves Malaysia's Tigers
5 Feb
Summary
- Crown prince established a royal tiger reserve, expanding the national park.
- Malayan tiger population has dropped from 3,000 to just 150.
- A recent sighting confirmed breeding activity in the new reserve.
Malaysia's tiger population faces a dire crisis, with numbers plummeting from an estimated 3,000 in the 1950s to a mere 150 today. The remaining Malayan tigers are now a focus of conservation efforts led by Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, the crown prince of Pahang. He spearheaded the establishment of the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve (ASARTR) in 2023. This new reserve, managed by Pahang State Parks and Enggang Management Services, expands Taman Negara National Park by over 30%, creating a vast 568,500-hectare protected area.
The ASARTR's strategic connection to Taman Negara, a crucial tiger stronghold, aims to facilitate natural population growth. This allows tigers to roam freely, find prey, and establish territories, reducing human-wildlife conflict. Collaborative efforts involving Panthera, BORA, and The Habitat Foundation are employing various strategies, including anti-poaching patrols utilizing Indigenous Orang Asli trackers and boosting prey species like sambar deer. International support, including significant grants from the European Union and the UAE's Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, underscores the global importance of these initiatives.
