Tigers in Malaysia

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I read an article in the Star today that did make me a little angry, a 3 year old tiger was shot for attacking some chickens in a village. I know that there are two sides to every story and the villagers probably do have some small justification, i.e their 'safety' and 'livelihood', however to kill something so rare and beautiful is heart-breaking.

And is it just me or does the guy holding the head of the tiger seem pleased?



A three-year-old male tiger was shot dead by a Rela member at Kampung Ulu Damaq in Sungai Bayor here yesterday. Selama acting OCPD Asst Superintendent Ramli Mohammad said the tiger had been spotted several times in the village and that it had apparently killed poultry belonging to a villager. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/23/nation/6525356&sec=nation

About the Tiger population in Malaysia



With the opening of the forests for agricultural development and the raising of livestock, the natural habitats and prey most preferred by tigers became depleted and at the same time, tigers were exposed to domesticated animals. Consequently, tigers are frequently reported to prey on livestock outside the protected area system. Protection of human life, livestock, and crops from wildlife is the responsibility of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN). Any animals posing threats are killed occasionally by locals, but if possible, captured and relocated by PERHILITAN. Animals are sacrificed by PERHILITAN as the last resort. In 1976 the tiger became a totally protected species under the Protection of Wildlife Act of 1972. In the same year, PERHILITAN established Tiger Management Units in four states with large tiger populations. Primary task of TMU is to reduce the conflict between tigers and men by attending villagers' complaints and reports on livestock depredation, capturing problem tigers if necessary, and monitoring tiger movements near villages and plantations. No compensation is paid for the loss of livestock. As a result, the official persecution of tigers in most parts of Malaysia stopped, and 'problem' tigers were captured if possible and transferred to the Melaka Zoo, where PERHILITAN has maintained a breeding center for tigers since 1982. Anyone found guilty of killing a tiger is liable to a penalty of up to RM15,000 (US$4,000) and/or up to five years imprisonment. To date, no one has received the maximum penalty.

The estimated number of tigers in Malaysia declined from 3,000 in the early 1950s (Locke 1954) to 250 in the early 1980s (Khan et al. 1983). Although both these estimates were not derived from sampling-based statistics, they are nonetheless indicative of a rapid population decline. A recent official estimate of 500 tigers (Topani 1990), based on years of depredation reports and surveys done by PERHILITAN staff, suggested a population comeback. Asserting that the Topani's estimate was conservative, PERHILITAN later adjusted the number to 600-650 (Samsudin and Elagupillay 1996), which serves as the most up-to-date estimate of the nation's tiger population today.

You can read more information by clicking the following link: http://www.wildasia.org/main.cfm/support/Malaysian_Tiger_Research