08 November 2023

Press Release

For immediate release

Rare image captured of one of the last tigers in Malaysia

The image is of one of less than 150 tigers remaining in Malaysia today - a rapid decline from an estimated 500 in 2010
Habitat loss, decline of prey and poaching for the illegal trade of tigers, their parts and products is fuelling the decline of tigers across Malaysia
Increasing efforts by Indigenous communities, the Government of Malaysia and organisations including WWF are starting to show positive progress

A high resolution camera trap photo of one of the last tigers in Malaysia has been captured by WWF and wildlife photographer Emmanuel Rondeau.

In the 1950s, Malaysia was estimated to have as many as 3,000 tigers. However, habitat loss, decline of prey and poaching for the illegal trade of tigers, their parts and products, have caused the population to decline to fewer than 150 individuals as of 2022.

This rare image of a tiger provides hope that the intensified conservation efforts of the Government of Malaysia, the Indigenous communities and organisations like WWF are making an impact.

Rondeau set up eight high-definition camera traps for five months across one of the last strongholds for tigers in Malaysia, Belum-Temengor Forest Complex in the north of Peninsular Malaysia.

Emmanuel Rondeau, photographer, said:

“The making of these images took months of preparation and field work. We knew it was going to be very difficult considering the low density of tigers in the region and the threats they are facing, but we also knew that the task was extremely important. These high-definition images are a symbol of a new generation of hope.” 

One of the biggest threats to tigers in the country are snares which are used by poachers to catch not just tigers but other animals such as tiger prey to sell in the illegal wildlife trade.

WWF’s recent Forest Pathways Report found a loss of top predators, such as tigers, also causes ecological meltdown through unregulated growth of herbivore populations such as deer and wild pig, leading to land being overgrazed, and forests struggling to regenerate.

Average populations of monitored forest species have declined by 79% in the last 50 years alone.

While there are some successes, at a global level we are not delivering on pledges made to save forests and we are not moving fast enough to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030.  

Becci May, Senior Programme Advisor for Asia at WWF-UK, said:  

“The decline of tigers in Malaysia and a number of other countries in Asia reflects the complex challenges confronting these magnificent creatures.

“Capturing a photo of a tiger in Malaysia in its natural habitat is a rarity. Yet each image serves as a sign of hope as well as a poignant reminder of the efforts needed to safeguard their future.

“Wild tigers play a key role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem on which humans and other wildlife rely. As well as being essential to local people’s livelihoods, tiger landscapes store carbon in their forests, grasslands and soils. Only by halting and reversing nature loss, and by working closely with local communities, can people and wildlife thrive.” 

Indigenous patrol teams which were initiated in partnership with WWF-Malaysia in 2018 and have grown from 3 to 22 teams have managed to reduce snares in the area by 98%.

A number of significant new commitments made by the Malaysian government have also been designed to tackle threats facing tigers including the National Tiger Task Force and increasing funding for the government and these Indigenous patrol teams. 

A recent spate of human-tiger encounters also raises grave concern for both human safety and the long-term survival of tigers in Malaysia.

Urgent interventions are needed to safeguard human lives, strengthen the management of protected areas and enhance prey populations to give the tigers enough food to survive in the forests.

This is crucial to reduce conflict and re-establish ecological balance to ensure the conservation of these magnificent creatures in their natural ecosystems. 

The photography project was made possible with the support of the Indigenous community patrol teams and WWF-Malaysia to identify locations, field operations and undertake monthly battery pack changes. 

ENDS

Why tigers matter

As the world’s largest cat and an apex predator, tigers play a significant role in the structure and function of the ecosystem on which both humans and wildlife rely. They are a “landscape” species, needing large areas with diverse habitats, free from human disturbance and rich in prey. Success or failure means more than securing the future of a single iconic species – it sets a precedent for how we will consider and prioritise the health of nature in global development and in a changing climate going forward. For more information see: tigers.panda.org 

About the Forests Pathways Report Series

The Forest Pathways reports will launch periodically between now and 2030 and will publish the guide to how we move away from failure towards meeting our global forest goals and share stories of where progress is being made.

About the Forests Declaration Assessment

The Forest Declaration Assessment is a comprehensive, civil society-led effort to assess collective progress towards global forest goals. With the support of a wide group of research organizations, think tanks, NGOs, and advocacy groups spanning the globe, the Assessment provides new and comprehensive data on the status of forest protection efforts by countries and companies; finance for forests; and the strength and enforcement of forest laws and respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

About Forests

Forests are home to 80% of wildlife that lives on land. They suck up one third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. They provide livelihoods for 1.6 billion people and supply ¼ of the active ingredients in cancer drugs.
Protecting forests is one of the few aims that countries and political parties across the world can agree on. It’s enshrined in multiple international treaties and goals.