KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan tigers face the risk of local extinction in some habitats as small, isolated populations struggle to breed, threatening the species’ genetic diversity.
The country had fewer than 150 tigers in the wild, according to the First National Tiger Survey conducted between 2016 and 2020.
Their survival remains threatened by snaring, poaching, habitat loss and other human activities.
WWF-Malaysia Malayan Tiger Conservation Programme head Azlan Mohamed said that while conservation efforts had yielded positive developments since 2021, major threats persisted.
“Very small populations remain vulnerable to poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation, declining prey populations and human-wildlife conflict.
“When populations become isolated, breeding opportunities and genetic exchange are affected, increasing the risk of local extinction,” he said.
The tiger population has shown an upward trend since 2021, following conservation efforts led by the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, said the efforts reflected the Malaysia Madani spirit of sustainability, compassion and cooperation among stakeholders to protect the endangered species for future generations.
Azlan said it was difficult to predict which areas might lose their tiger populations, as the animals could travel long distances between forest areas.
“Even if no tigers are detected in an area for several years, it does not mean they have become locally extinct or will not return.
“They could return and re-establish themselves if habitat conditions, food availability and other environmental factors are suitable. Forest landscapes must also remain connected to allow them to move between areas and ensure the population’s long-term survival,” he said.
In Belum-Temengor, WWF-Malaysia has detected no active snares during its patrols since 2022, following enforcement efforts by the authorities.
Azlan attributed this to cooperation between WWF-Malaysia, government agencies and the Orang Asli community under the STAMPEDE Project.
However, he cautioned that the threat of poaching had not been eliminated, with trespassing and the setting of new snares remaining risks.
He said vast forest areas, difficult terrain and limited access to remote locations continued to hamper patrols and monitoring.
Key habitats must therefore remain protected, while ecological corridors must be maintained to prevent forest fragmentation, he said.
He also called for stronger enforcement in poaching hotspots and consistent scientific monitoring to track population trends.
On infrastructure projects such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), Azlan said large-scale development could fragment habitats and disrupt wildlife movement.
He acknowledged that a Wildlife Management Plan had been implemented for the project in collaboration with the Wildlife and National Parks Department, including ecological corridors and wildlife crossings to reduce fragmentation and help animals move safely.
However, he said the effectiveness of these measures must be assessed throughout construction and after operations began.
This should include monitoring wildlife use of the crossings and assessing habitat connectivity, he added.