CNN
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A recent series of alarming deaths has heightened fears for the Malayan tiger, wildlife authorities and conservationists say, with some even calling the threat to Malaysia’s iconic animal a “national emergency.”
This majestic cat subspecies is native to the jungles of Peninsular Malaysia and is critically endangered. Due to habitat loss, illegal poaching and a decline in prey, it is estimated that fewer than 150 individuals remain in the wild.
The snake is featured on the Malaysian coat of arms and is considered a symbol of national heritage. According to official figures, its numbers have declined dramatically since the 1950s, when around 3,000 specimens roamed the Southeast Asian country.
Against this already grim backdrop, photos and videos of a dead Malayan tiger went viral on social media in late June. The carcass, found bloated and floating in a stream in the rural northern state of Kelantan, was discovered by forest rangers.
There were no signs of sling or gunshot injuries and state forest officials are currently conducting an autopsy.
The images provoked strong reactions from many people in Malaysia, highlighting the urgency of saving their national symbol from extinction.
“The plight of Malaysia’s tigers is a national crisis that requires the full attention and commitment of all Malaysians,” Henry Chan, conservation director at World Wildlife Fund Malaysia (WWF), told CNN.
Stronger conservation efforts are needed, he added, including increased patrols in key tiger habitats and the use of modern technologies such as camera traps and drones for observation and monitoring.
“These magnificent creatures continue to teeter on the brink of extinction,” Chan said.
“The loss of just one tiger brings the entire species closer to extinction, making the life of each individual tiger extremely critical to the survival of the species.”
“The Malayan tiger is on the verge of extinction, with fewer than 150 left in the wild,” said Mark Rayan Darmaraj, country director of the Wildlife Conservation Society Malaysia, who noted that the following day, in another case in the nearby state of Pahang, suspected poachers were arrested “in possession of the skull and bones of a tiger.”
“They suffer from habitat loss, scarcity of prey and retaliation as a result of human-tiger conflict,” he said.
“In addition, the construction of roads through their habitats increases the risk of fatal car accidents, as several recent incidents have shown.”
On July 6, authorities in the western state of Perak were alerted to a dead tiger found in a sewer next to a major highway. The adult male, estimated to be about four years old, had been hit by a car, officials said.
A month earlier, the body of another adult tiger was found on a highway in Pahang state. Authorities believe the tiger, believed to be five years old, was hit by a car as it attempted to cross the road from a nearby forest reserve.
According to authorities, it was the fourth Malaysian tiger to die in a car accident between November 2023 and May 2024.
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The Malayan tiger was recognized as a separate subspecies in 2004. Like all tigers, they are excellent swimmers and powerful apex predators.
Malayan tigers are smaller than the Sumatran tigers of Indonesia and the Bengal tigers of South Asia. According to experts, they can grow up to 2.5 meters long and weigh up to 130 kilograms and need large areas of forest to roam.
Their slightly darker, reddish-orange fur also distinguishes them from other tiger species.
In an eight-year National Action Plan for Tiger Conservation released in 2020 in collaboration with nonprofit groups, Malaysian officials outlined priorities such as conservation tools and a “National Physical Plan” to support conservation efforts.
“By implementing a range of concerted actions, backed by political commitment and public support, we as a nation and as part of the global conservation community can ensure that one of the most majestic and charismatic animals with which we share the planet does not go extinct,” the report said.
CNN has reached out to official wildlife authorities for further comment on recent tiger conservation efforts.
