LETTERS: YET another Malayan tiger has died, this time hit by a vehicle on the East Coast Expressway last Thursday. It is the third such death in six months.
This is a major tragedy as there are fewer than 150 Malayan tigers left in the wild.
To minimise such incidents, we must be serious in conserving this critically endangered animal.
Conservation efforts must focus on protecting the entire ecosystem that supports not only the Malayan tiger, but also its natural prey.
This includes safeguarding forested areas, biodiversity and water catchment zones.
The primary aim of tiger conservation is to prevent habitat fragmentation and ensure connectivity, creating a contiguous forest corridor across Peninsular Malaysia where Malayan tigers are known to roam.
Fragmented forests are one of the main causes of tigers crossing roads, highways and land designated for logging or development to maintain their territory, find mates and hunt for food.
Conservation initiatives should involve pinpointing the habitat of Malayan tigers and their prey.
Towards this end the Wildlife and National Parks Department set out the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan 2008-2020.
It highlights areas frequented by Malayan tigers and emphasises the restoration, maintenance and proper management of essential ecological corridors to ensure connectivity and prevent fragmentation.
It aims to facilitate the continued dispersal of tigers in their natural habitat.
The Malayan tiger ecological corridors include the Belum-Temengor, Taman Negara-Lebir-Tembat and Endau-Rompin-Mersing areas, as well as a narrow strip of forest connecting the Main Range and Taman Negara near the western border of the park in Pahang.
In 2021, the National Tiger Conservation Task Force was set up. It outlined six initiatives to be carried out over 10 years, from 2021 to 2030, including putting more boots on the ground for patrolling and enforcement.
But in reality, these efforts would only be fruitful with an appropriate allocation catered to the conservation of Malayan tigers.
Better allocations will help delineate and designate more forest reserves, protect wildlife corridors, restore degrading habitats and build mitigation structures.
Unless really concerted action is taken immediately, we should brace ourselves and be ready to say goodbye to our beloved Malayan tigers.
SHEILA RAMALINGAM
Senior lecturer, Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times