PUTRAJAYA remains committed to intensifying conservation efforts for Malayan tigers, which are estimated to number fewer than 150 across the country, said Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said increased manpower is one of the key efforts aiding the conservation of the Malayan tiger.
He said the number of community rangers had been increased from 1,000 to 2,000, consisting of armed forces veterans, police, Orang Asli, and the local community this year.
“There is good progress when there are community rangers in their habitats to combat poachers. This is our ongoing effort to restore as many wildlife corridors as possible in the central peninsular area, which is a place for tigers to roam,” he said.
Nik Nazmi had earlier flagged off and participated in the 3.5km Run for the Stripes in conjunction with World Tiger Day 2024 at Taman Metropolitan Kepong.
The minister said the shrinking Malayan tiger habitat was also a challenge as it increased conflict and created problems for the country’s iconic species.
“Sometimes it involves feeding problems. The animals that should be prey for these tigers are also decreasing, such as wild boar and sambar deer, which also causes problems. The tigers will leave the forest area because there is not enough food in the forest,” he said. – July 21, 2024.
