KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Urgent and coordinated action is needed to halt the decline of the critically endangered Malayan tiger and prevent its extinction, says Persatuan Pelindung Harimau Malaysia (RIMAU) president Lara Ariffin.
She said the country's apex predator was on the brink of extinction, with its wild population falling below 150 according to the National Tiger Survey conducted between 2016 and 2020.
“We have already lost the Sumatran rhino. The tiger is at a tipping point, and if we don't do anything, it will head towards extinction, something we cannot afford as a nation,” she told Bernama in an interview on the sidelines of the Global Tipping Points Conference 2026 here today.
She identified habitat loss and fragmentation as major threats to tiger conservation, noting that Peninsular Malaysia retained only 43 per cent forest cover, while African swine fever outbreaks among wild boar have depleted a key source of prey.
"When you lose an apex predator, it disrupts the entire forest system, affecting clean water supply and climate regulation that humans directly depend on," she said.
Lara welcomed the government’s increased funding for frontline conservation efforts, including the provision for 2,500 community rangers in the latest budget, but cautioned that critical forest landscapes, including those in Perak, were still operating at only 60 per cent of the required ranger capacity.
“I think we can improve on this, but it has to be a collaborative effort. Not only governments but NGOs, the public and the private sector as well need to come into play to help save the Malayan tiger.
“The understanding of the bigger picture is still lacking, so the awareness of what value our forests hold still needs to be sensitised towards our communities,” she said.
Lara urged plantation developers and private entities to halt further forest clearing and restore ecological corridors to address habitat fragmentation.
To raise public awareness and encourage younger generations to appreciate nature, RIMAU has launched Laya Liar, a 72-episode digital series on YouTube and Facebook.
“Everyone has a role to play so that the story of our Malayan tigers does not end up as a mere memory told to future generations beginning with 'once upon a time’, ” she said.
-- BERNAMA