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MALAYAN TIGER
Tigers are the largest cat species in the world and is exclusively found in Asia
CONSERVATION STATUS
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
PROFILE
"PAK BELANG"
SPECIES ORIGIN
Semenanjung Malaysia
The Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) is a subspecies of tigers that exists uniquely in the Malay Peninsula.
There are a total of nine (9) subspecies of tigers in the world, three (3) of which are extinct.
Extinct subspecies:
- Bali tiger (Panthera tigris balica), in Bali, Indonesia
- Javan tiger (Panthera tigirs sondaica), in Java, Indonesia
- Caspian tiger (Panthera tigris virgata), in Caspian Sea, Turkey, Iran and Central Asia
Existing subspecies:
- Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), in Amur-Heilong (Russia-China)
- South China Tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis), in Southeast China-Hainan
- Indochina Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Southwestern China
- Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), in Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar
- Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), in Sumatra, Indonesia
CHARACTERISTIC
Geographical Habitat
The Malayan Tiger Survey has never been carried out on a large scale to represent the forests throughout Peninsular Malaysia. The presence of tigers is an indicator of the well- being of the ecosystem.
Tiger habitats range across three forest landscapes; Belum-Temengor Complex (Perak), Taman Negara National Park (Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan) and Endau-Rompin Complex (Johor, Pahang).
Tiger Morphology
Malayan tigers appear to be smaller compared to Bengal tigers and are not much different from Indochinese tigers.
The Malayan tiger is averagely 2.4m metres in length and weighs 120kg.
Average Size of a Male Tiger:
- Weight : >47.2kg ~ 129.1kg
- Length : ~8' 6"
- Height : ~61 - 114cm
Average Size of a Female Tiger:
- Weight : >24kg ~ 88.1kg
- Length : ~7' 10"
- Height : ~58 - 104cm
CLASS | PHYLUM
Mammalia | Chordata
ORDER
Carnivora | Eats Meat
FAMILY | GENUS
Felidae | Panthera
SPECIES
Panthera Tigris Jacksoni
SPECIES POPULATION
2014: Population surveys by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN), WWF, WCS and RIMBA estimates the number of tigers are between 250 to 340.
Location: 7 major tiger landscapes in Belum-Temengor, Taman Negara and Endau-Rompin.
2015: The 1st National Tiger Survey (NTS) was conducted in collaboration of government and non-government agencies; PERHILITAN, World Wide Fund (WWF) Malaysia, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Malaysia and Pertubuhan Pelindung Alam Malaysia.
The 1st National Tiger Survey (1st NTS) in 75% of the 44,000km survey plots from 2016 to 2018 discovers that the population of Malayan tigers were below 200.
Survey Location: 20 plots in the Central Forest Spine across eight major tiger habitats in the Malay Peninsula; Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu
Methodology: Systematic Camera Traps
TIGERS AND FOREST ECOSYSTEM
Ecology and Behaviour
The Malayan Tiger is an apex predator, its diet consisting of boars, antelope, deer, porcupine, wild ox and mousedeer.
The extinction of tigers will disrupt the ecological system; the population of wild boars will dramatically increase tenfold thus destroying the agriculture infrastructure.
Malayan tigers are solitary animals, excepts for associations between individuals of both sexes at the time of mating or the mother and her cubs. Malayan tigers mate year around and give birth to a live litter comprising two or three cubs.
Malayan tiger cubs stay with their mothers until they are about 2 years old.
Malayan Tiger Uniqueness
The Malayan tigers is unique in which no two tigers have the same markings, their stripes as individual as fingerprints are for humans.
The Malayan Tigers are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) as a Totally Protected Species.
Illegal Hunting
The biggest threat tigers face is illegal hunting. Local and foreign poachers ensnare tigers in traps to capture and then sell the animal for profit.
Snaring is a favoured method used by poachers. A tiger caught in a snare would suffer horrible injuries or a lingering death. It would likely only escape the trap if it chewed off its own paw.
Wildlife Trade
Illegal demand for tiger parts are very high – from its bones, blood, sex organs, skin and teeth are sold as trophies and jewelleries, while its meat is used for exotic dishes.
There are also high demands for tiger parts from foreign countries for traditional medicine.
Habitat Loss
The tiger habitat is steadily decreasing and tigers are forced to move from one area to another due to habitat fragmentation.
Habitat fragmentation threatens the risk of wildlife roadkill. In 2016, a pregnant Malayan tiger was killed instantly after getting hit by a vehicle on the East Coast Highway II (LPT2) at night.
Lack of Food Source
The main food source of Malayan tigers consists of boars, antelope, deer, porcupine, wild ox and mousedeer.
However, even these wildlife are hunted by irresponsible poachers.
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