WWF-Malaysia is saddened at the loss of another Malayan tiger, the latest being the victim of a vehicle collision on the East Coast Expressway in Terengganu. Tragically, this female tiger was discovered to be pregnant with two cubs.
This brings the number of dead tigers to five in the past three weeks, an unprecedented number within such a short time.
However, these are just the cases that are recorded, as undoubtedly many more cases of tiger poaching are undetected.
Unfortunately, the death of even a single animal is a huge blow to the tiger population, especially with recent evidence suggesting Malaysia has only 250 to 340 tigers left in the wild.
As the nation progresses towards being developed, the pressure on our natural resources, particularly our forests, will escalate with more infrastructure, such as roads, being built or expanded.
The construction of roads, particularly highways, has fragmented forest complexes in Malaysia and has likely disrupted behavioural patterns and habitat use by large mammals, for example, the elimination of tigers on the western portion of the North-South Expressway.
Fragmentation caused by roads impedes movements and negatively affects wildlife through vehicular mortality.
Unfortunately, mitigation measures — using a science-based assessment to counter hindered permeability of tigers and other wildlife between habitats fragmented by roads — are lacking in Malaysia.
Recognising this gap, WWF-Malaysia carried out wildlife habitat-use surveys to provide science-based criteria in recommending locations for wildlife crossings in the Belum-Temengor forest complex in Perak.
This aided the authorities in choosing where a viaduct should be placed in the area to facilitate movement of wildlife between forest patches.
This was, in fact, the first study to identify tiger crossings and habitat corridors for mitigating the negative effects of a highway in the country.
Malaysia has the Central Forest Spine Masterplan for Ecological Linkages, a federal document that identifies 37 forested linkages in Peninsular Malaysia and outlines measures to conserve and boost their functionality.
However, since land is a state matter, there are varying degrees of success.
Within WWF-Malaysia’s priority landscape of Belum-Temengor, conservation initiatives by the government have been carried out in the corridor that flanks the East-West Highway, most prominently the gazettement of this area as a permanent forest reserve and the construction of a viaduct for wildlife crossings.
WWF-Malaysia urges state governments to adhere to the Central Forest Spine Masterplan for Ecological Linkages.
This includes implementing conservation measures along critical corridors, such as providing legal protection for natural forests, and the construction of green infrastructure, such as viaducts and elevated highways.
Boosting linkages through the establishment of green infrastructure, such as viaducts, especially through robust science-based assessments, will help tigers and other wildlife cross roads, which will in turn aid their long-term survival within the landscape.
Other measures include warning signages and speed breakers in strategic locations. WWF-Malaysia advises motorists to adhere to speed limits and be cautious in roads flanked by forests.
DATUK DR DIONYSIUS SHARMA,
Executive director-CEO World Wildlife Fund-Malaysia, Petaling Jaya,
Selangor