MYCAT TRACKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MALAYSIAN CONSERVATION Kae Kawanishi ALLIANCE FOR (MYCAT) EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Unit 3, Ground Floor, Wong Pui May Jalan SS 23/11, Taman SEA, 47400 Petaling Jaya, , HONORARY CONSULTING EDITOR Muna Noor T: +6.03.7880.3940 F: +6.03.7882.0171 HONORARY COPY EDITOR E: [email protected] Barbara de Waard W: www.malayantiger.net www.citizenactionfortigers.my LAYOUT & DESIGN FB: www.facebook.com/ Stephanie Goh themalayantiger www.facebook.com/ COVER IMAGE DESIGN wildlifecrimehotline Rionna Muniandy Table of Contents

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6 LIVELIHOOD 30 SUSTAINABILITY 20 Voices from the forest Wild tigers and the economy: an intimate tango for life 8 FEATURE Ten and still fi ghting 32 BUSINESS The business of conservation: 18 KNOWLEDGE good deeds with dirty hands? What we know and don’t know about the Malayan tiger 34 EXTINCTION Extinction of the majestic 20 THREAT stripes Fighting the real beast: illegal trade 36 MENTALITY Roaring for tigers, but is 22 PROTECTION anyone listening? Needing a perfect “10”: impressions from the last 10 30 39 TAKE ACTION! 25 CAT WALK A walk on wild’s side 41 MYCAT IN NUMBERS 26 FORESTRY When the going gets rough 42 THANK YOU 28 POLICY Harmonising the management of protected areas by Federal and State Governments

* Opinions expressed in MYCAT Tracks are those of the author and not necessarily of MYCAT or the organisationMYCAT the author TRACKS represents. VOL. 5 2014 1 After one million years of reigning over Asia’s forests, tigers everywhere are in trouble. The unimaginable – a world FOREWORD without wild tigers – is quickly becoming reality. Forest by forest, country by country, tigers are killed and sold to satiate greed, by Kae Kawanishi ignorance and the traditional belief that General Manager, MYCAT consuming tigers will make people as strong as the . By the turn of this century, I don’t know a life without purpose. the world had lost 97% of its wild tigers. As Malaysia’s tiger population too had declined Isn’t purpose what makes us human? from 3,000 to 500 individuals, the nation needed a strategy to save it from imminent he world is full of things to fi ght for Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT) extinction. and Malaysia’s wildlife is the pick of was born in 2003. During the past decade, this tiger Tour lives. By the time I was 10 years For those with big dreams, the gap conservation strategy was conceived, old, I knew my contribution to the world between goal and reality can be a torment. endorsed and implemented, albeit would be to study and protect wildlife. It was When I feel that I can’t go on, I think about unsatisfactorily. Over the same decade, most no coincidence that I came to Malaysia to the solidarity of my colleagues and friends, countries in Indochina lost their tigers to study tigers in 1997 and met a group of people fi ghting alongside. They are the stars that poachers despite all eff orts. In Malaysia, who shared the same purpose. The spirit of have guided MYCAT. Without these lights, though diminished, the currently estimated working together to save the tiger brought the challenges would have been too daunting 300 wild tigers survived one of the toughest us together; consequently the Malaysian and bleak to face. times in modern human history for all wildlife. Their continued existence was a

* Photo credits to friends and supporters of MYCAT. 2 MYCATTRACKSVOL5MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 20201414 result of a series of conscious conservation eff orts by many quarters. I declare a small commemorates the 10-year journey that I wish to acknowledge the work done by win. MYCAT members have jointly taken towards wildlife rangers. I had the privilege of Fieldwork I conducted between 2009 saving the Malayan tiger. I have asked my spending some years in and 2011 to monitor a tiger population in colleagues to each write an opinion piece on alongside some of the best rangers from the central Malaysia broke my spirit – the tigers their respective areas of expertise: looking now defunct Tiger Unit in . Among were gone. Visions of dead wildlife and back – what happened in the recent past; other great things they taught me about carved-up forests deepened my sense of looking forward – what is likely to happen in Malaysia, they taught me the way of tigers and helplessness and have kept me awake many the next decade; and fi nally, what needs to the jungle. They worked to save not only nights. A massacre of forests and wildlife was happen so that the Malayan tiger will recover wildlife but also my life without expecting wrought in a place I had always considered and survive into the future. Controversial, appreciation. Subsequently during my tenure home. I was smothered with anguish at the disturbing, impolite it may be – I have asked in the Wildlife Department, I came to know countless moments of their deaths. It is a the writers to be honest. members of Tiger Units from other states. grief that I wish I could forget. A few years One day, hopefully in the distant future, Without these tiger rangers, I would later, becoming aware of the reason why the tiger will go extinct, most likely before not have become the tiger expert that I I had to experience the painful reality of the human will. The day could be sooner if am today. Without them, Malaysia would what was happening to wildlife and forests the current trajectory continues without have already lost its tigers. Though little everywhere helped me out of my depression. major changes. Their fate is in the hands recognition, resources and reward were With the privilege of knowledge, I had of mankind. When the Malayan tiger goes given to these heroes, their purpose inherited a duty to act. extinct and MYCAT’s fellowship becomes a remained pure and their ways humble. Dr. George Schaller, whose seminal footnote of history, these are the tracks that Across gender, racial, religious, cultural and research on tigers in the 1960s inspired me I want to leave behind for future generations. national diff erences, the tiger brought us to become a carnivore ecologist during my When someone asks what people did when together. We shared a common value. More undergraduate years, says that conservation wild Malayan tigers were eliminated, this than being great wildlife rangers, they are has no victories and is a never-ending process. publication will provide some answers. great human beings. That is what tigers In the face of such odds, I could not have picked Yet, some of the hardest battles are fought need. Their spirit lives in me. So the fi ght better teammates to fi ght this battle. The by people not featured in this publication. must go on. fi ght for the Malayan tiger isn’t over yet. Like peace, conservation successes can be achieved at specifi c points in space and time and so we must soldier on. And we will do better with more funds and people on our side. This special issue of MYCAT TRACKS

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 3 ASHLEIGH SEOW is interested in Former award-winning GOPALASAMY REUBEN indigenous peoples, their customs, environmental journalist, CLEMENTS’ career in tiger and cosmology. As a Malaysian ELIZABETH JOHN directs all conservation began in 2007 when he Nature Society nature guide, he media and communication work was appointed Species Conservation volunteered for Citizen Action for TRAFFIC in , Manager of WWF-Malaysia’s for Tigers (CAT) Walk in 2010, reaching out to the region’s millions Malayan tiger conservation and joined MYCAT in 2012 as a about wildlife trade and the crises project. In 2010, he co-founded the Citizen Conservation Specialist caused by and traffi cking. research group Rimba and became to include the indigenous Batek She shapes the messaging on the the Principal Investigator of the in tiger conservation and to help organisation’s work and eff orts to Kenyir Wildlife Corridor Project, them preserve their traditional change attitudes towards wildlife which aimed to develop measures skills and knowledge at Sungai Yu use, and designs outreach projects to mitigate the impacts of roads on Tiger Corridor. He also conducts the from awareness raising in schools tigers and other in Kenyir, Forest Safety and Confi dence course to wildlife crime reporting for . After receiving his for CAT Walk leaders. Prior to journalists. Elizabeth has long been PhD from James Cook University joining MYCAT, Ashleigh delivered a noisy and persistent advocate for in 2014, he became the Principal organisational development better policy and protection for Investigator of Project Harimau workshops for the banking and tigers, and kick-ass prosecution Selamanya, a 10-year project that energy sectors and negotiation skills of poachers, and believes lasting focuses on the protection and training for companies affl icted by solutions to the problems facing the monitoring of tigers in a core area in poor communication and troubled Malayan tiger can be found. Kenyir Wildlife Corridor and Taman working relationships with their Negara. stakeholders. He also taught political economy at Murdoch University.

With support from the Malaysian Armed with her determination to LAVANIADEVI government, KAE KAWANISHI make the world a better place for GOPALAKRISHNAN joined conducted the fi rst scientifi c wildlife and with over a decade of MYCAT as a volunteer for Citizen research on tiger ecology in experience working on forest and Action for Tigers (CAT) Walk in Malaysia between 1998 and 2001 conservation issues, KANITHA 2012, interned with the Secretariat’s in Taman Negara. After receiving KRISHNASAMY believes that Offi ce in 2013 and is now a her PhD from University of Florida, Malaysia’s natural resource Programme Offi cer. She coordinates she worked for the Malaysian mismanagement stems from MYCAT’s citizen conservation Department of Wildlife for three short-sightedness and apathy by programmes, including CAT years as a Technical Advisor in the country’s decision-makers. Walk and outreach. She is now research and conservation. During She manages TRAFFIC Southeast undergoing training to become that time, the government founded Asia’s programme on species a CAT Walk leader herself. She MYCAT and developed the National critically threatened by trade, loves coordinating CAT Walks and Tiger Conservation Action Plan. including TRAFFIC’s initiative empowering members of the public During her second fi eld research, in the Belum-Temengor Forest who are willing to help save wildlife. she initiated a citizen conservation Complex – a premier tiger site that She is inspired daily by the folks she programme to protect wildlife at is facing tremendous pressure from works with and by their infectious Sungai Yu Tiger Corridor in 2010. poaching and trade, unsustainable passion for saving wildlife. Mentored by world-renowned timber extraction and forest tiger conservation biologists conversion. She is a member of the throughout her career, she believes Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) that partnership and inclusion and Board member for FSC in are the key to successful wildlife Malaysia. conservation. Contributors

4 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 MARK RAYAN DARMARAJ MELVIN GUMAL has a PhD on Like a cat, MUNA NOOR has had NAGULENDRAN has been working for WWF- bat ecology from University of many lives, including as Editorial KANGAYATKARASU joined Malaysia for the past ten years and Cambridge and has been involved Director for one of Malaysia’s the as a is currently the Lead Research in conservation in Malaysia since largest English language publishers Diplomatic and Administrative Scientist for WWF-Malaysia’s 1988. His initial engagement and Director of Corporate offi cer in 1995. He has been involved Species Conservation Programme. included working with indigenous Communications for an investment in policy formulation, governance He completed his PhD in 2012 at communities to create protected fi rm. She’s a lover of animals but and stakeholder engagement on University of Kent, United Kingdom areas for orang-utans, for which he in particular cats big and small. issues related to the environment, on tiger ecology in the Belum- recently won the Whitley Award, a She recently left her job to devote especially focusing on biodiversity. Temengor Forest Complex. He prestigious international nature more time to personal pursuits On these issues, he has represented then became the fi rst Malaysian conservation prize. After 15 years including spreading the message the Government of Malaysia PhD holder on tiger ecology. He working in the civil service with of tiger conservation. She is a in numerous international was awarded the Zoological Society Forestry Department, he certifi ed Citizen Action for Tigers conventions. He assisted with of London Thomas Henry Huxley became the Director of Wildlife (CAT) Walk leader and was awarded getting the National Tiger Award for the best PhD thesis of Conservation Society-Malaysia MYCAT Volunteer of the Year in Conservation Action Plan adopted the year in the UK and the Fiona Programme (WCS) in 2003. 2012. She is currently helping by the National Biodiversity and Alexander Prize, another award Together with government agencies, MYCAT as a Communication Biotechnology Council in 2009, for the best thesis within the WCS’ work in the -Rompin Strategy Specialist to improve its as well as with the passing of the department he studied. landscape includes heavy on-the- communications with donors and Wildlife Conservation Act 2010. ground enforcement. The multi- the public. He is currently pursuing a PhD at agency enforcement eff ort has been University of Nottingham in the ongoing since 2009 to protect tigers area of Biodiversity Governance, and other wildlife. and is a recipient of the Special Excellence Award 2014 from the University.

As a Programme Offi cer with SIVANANTHAN ELAGUPILLAY SUZALINUR MANJA BIDIN WONG PUI MAY joined MYCAT TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, OR OI has been working with the has been with MYCAT since as a Programme Offi cer in 2010, CHING coordinates all programmes Department of Wildlife and 2007. Tapping into his experience and is now the Coordinator. She in the Belum-Temengor Forest National Parks working as a Zoo Educator communicates with the public, Complex. She engages with for more than 30 years. His PhD prior to joining MYCAT, he has facilitates communication the local communities through was on protected area policy from co-developed, coordinated and among MYCAT partner NGOs, education and awareness outreach University of Idaho in 2005. During executed MYCAT’s outreach and and coordinates MYCAT joint programmes, as well as reaches out his lengthy professional life, Siva education programmes at poaching initiatives, such as a memorandum to enforcement agencies through has held a number of posts, ranging and trading hotspots targeting to the government, press statements training workshops. After fi ve years from Head of Wildlife Management both urban and rural communities. and events like the Wild Tiger Run. of work in wildlife conservation, to Head of Law Enforcement, but As Senior Programme Offi cer, he She also bridges the communication she has come to understand the for the most part, has stayed on had previously coordinated a joint gap between the government and sentiments of the general public top of conservation issues related capacity-building programme for NGOs. She has attended many towards wildlife, especially those of to the tiger and protected areas. Taman Negara enforcement staff meetings among both government the local communities in Belum- Nationally and internationally, and currently manages MYCAT’s and non-government stakeholders Temengor. he is known as Malaysia’s tiger Wildlife Crime Hotline and Citizen where tiger conservation challenges expert and has inspired many tiger Action for Tigers (CAT) programme. were discussed, and fi nds that conservationists across various His talents include graphic design similar solutions have been institutions. For his unmatched and he is the in-house designer proposed repeatedly. She hopes contribution to tiger conservation, for many MYCAT posters and that Malaysia’s leaders will start he was presented with Malaysia’s newsletters. listening to our tiger experts before fi rst-ever Tiger Wallah Award by it’s really too late. MYCAT in 2014.

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 5 LIVELIHOOD Voices from the forest

By Arop, Bao, and Cicak *interviewed by Ashleigh Seow

LOOKING BACK the thought of tigers because there are very and ruined the livelihood of the Orang Asli In the past, things were very good: the forest few, if any. Before, when hunting or foraging, and the animals. was big, there were many animals and much three or more people went together, now What is important also is our adat ubi (tubules, indigenous people’s staple one person can walk alone. In one way, we (tradition). If we lose our forest, we lose diet) to gather. In 2000 the Federal Land are free of fear and do not need to defend our culture, customs and medicinal plants. Development Authority (FELDA) came. The ourselves, but we also miss them and the Before the logging and mining and town forest was cut and ruined by logging, and and too for they have almost people came, there were many sorts of oil palm, which was planted in 2004. More gone as well. The monkeys and pigs are many medicines and ubi; now many are lost or people started mining. Things got worse. and these now come near to villages for food. rare. If oil palm grows where the forest During this time, they did not log near our was, our youths will not know the trees and settlement. We need the forest to be close to LOOKING AHEAD plants, their leaves, branches and fruits. collect fruit and blowpipe game. We like it In the past, the government did not sell the Our parents’ graves will be destroyed. here because the forest is still nearby. Next forest around our settlement, now there is A Batek is buried close to where he last time the logging will be closer to us. We don’t only a small amount of big forest around lived; our grandparents and ancestors know if they will continue logging and then the Batu (limestone outcrop), the rest is are everywhere in the forest and we know plant oil palm in place of the forest. We hope like belukar (disturbed secondary brush where they lie. But if the forest is logged, not. vegetation). We hope the government will we will lose them and we will not be able to After the oil palm and loggers, wildlife stop this logging because it is not good for the remember their graves. became less. Before that there were tigers. forest. We weep for the forest, for the Forest If the logging, oil palm and mining After the rains, we could see their tracks Reserves and Taman Negara, all the way to continue, this village will have to move close to the village and in the forest. Once we . And for the animals. If there is not elsewhere, maybe back to the forest in saw signs of three tigers on a path. Then we enough food, they will come to the villages to Taman Negara. This is the tempat asal started to see many snares in the forest and raid orchards or, in the case of tigers, to look Batek (the place where the signs of animals being trapped. The tigers for dogs or people, which will be bad for all. emerged into this world). No other people became less common and we saw fewer They do not want to disturb us and are not can make this claim and we will return even signs of them. Now we see hardly any tiger to be blamed, for it is poachers and our own if we are later removed. They can block us sign in the forest and are not disturbed by government who have damaged the forest a thousand times but we will return twice

6 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 LIVELIHOOD fold. Many of us were born there. Our adat comes from there. Batek berasal sana (we come from there).

WHAT IS NEEDED The government doesn’t look after the place well. We used to see many intruders in the forest but never saw the authorities patrolling. From Sungai Relau to Kuala Yu [western border of Taman Negara], a year could go by and we would never see patrol units or their tracks in the forest or their boats on the river. We are happy to see visitors coming into the forest and our settlement and want MYCAT to do more. In many places the local villagers do not lay snares anymore because they will be disturbed by MYCAT and also when MYCAT fi nds snares, the authorities will come into the forest later to collect them. We think more patrolling is needed in Ulu Sungai Yu where the poachers have moved to. But the best thing for Batek and all the animals would be if other people stop trying to improve or take things from this place and leave it alone. © Nazrul Tahir

“What is important also is our adat (tradition). If we lose our forest we lose our culture, customs and medicinal plants.”

© Nazrul Tahir

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 7 FEATURE Ten and still fi ghting

MYCAT marks a decade of tiger conservation partnership in Malaysia. What better time to celebrate the triumphs, contemplate the failures and steel ourselves for the incredible challenges that will lie ahead in the eff ort to save the Malayan tiger.

By Muna Noor

“But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger; Stiff en the sinews, summon up the blood, Then lend the eye a terrible aspect; Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide, Hold hard the breath, and bend up every spirit To his full height!” William Shakespeare

Tiger Chronology Top 50 2003 2004 2005 2006

MYCAT established Project RELA (People’s Wildlife Rubber 80,000 postcards Workshop addressing Volunteer Corp) Crime Unit tapper killed handed to conducted to Research fi nds human-tiger member charged set up to by tiger in Chief Minister to develop strategy Malaysia has confl ict begins for killing tiger in intensify anti- Kelantan protect Belum- to save Malayan enough habitat to in Jeli, Kelantan wildlife crime Temengor tigers support 1,500 tigers eff orts

© Jake Leong/MYCAT 8 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 he tigris, or tiger, is the are unsettling. Human population growth, closer together for information exchange and world’s largest cat. It is the object development and poaching have pushed collaboration for tiger conservation. As an Tof fear and awe, revered and reviled Malayan tigers and other wildlife that share alliance, MYCAT was a fi rst, not just here in in one breath and yet for all the tales of its its forests to the brink of survival. Malaysia, but in tiger conservation globally. strength and ferocity, there are fewer than It includes leading nature and wildlife 3,200 left in the wild, all of them in Asia. Enter MYCAT conservation organisations: Malaysian The Malayan tiger or Panthera tigris If this sounds like an unfair fi ght then Nature Society (MNS), TRAFFIC Southeast jacksoni, named after renowned tiger MYCAT was created to even up the odds. Asia, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)- conservationist Peter Jackson, is our tiger. “During my PhD research in Taman Negara, Malaysia Programme, and WWF-Malaysia. The last of nine sub-species to be recognised I was supported by many people from the MYCAT is supported by the Wildlife after it was offi cially identifi ed in 2004, it is Wildlife Department and NGOs who all shared Department, and has become a symbol of found only in the , not even the same goal of saving wildlife in Malaysia, what can be achieved when you put the right in and Sarawak or in neighbouring and experienced the same challenges such as people in a room. Sumatra despite our geographical proximity. lack of resources, and capacity for eff ective This is what makes this beast truly special to protection and scientifi c research. It made . sense to put them all together for a greater Like many of the world’s tigers, the outcome. Being young and naïve, I did the most Malayan tiger once claimed its rightful place logical thing, which was to enter the Malaysian as king of the jungle. In the 1950s, there were civil service and persuade the government to an estimated 3,000 roaming the dense steamy set up MYCAT,” says Dr. Kae Kawanishi, now forests of pre-independence Malaya. Today, the General Manager of MYCAT Secretariat’s only about 300 remain. That’s probably Offi ce. fewer than the children enrolled in your Formed in 2003, MYCAT was created as a neighbourhood primary school. The odds platform to bring the government and NGOs From left, Dino, Chris and Melvin 2007 2008

1,175 km2 Royal Wildlife Race Against Time Terengganu State Hunting International Tiger Belum State Crime Hotline campaign launched Executive Council moratorium Trade in Action Park gazetted 019.356.4194 to rally support for agrees to gazette the on all wildlife Endangered Plan launched tigers and better 150 km2 Sungai Deka passed in Species Act published wildlife law corridor as a wildlife 2008 passed reserve

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 9 Malaysia’s blueprint for saving the tiger By Kae Kawanishi

The nature of a country’s These 1,000 tigers were to be MYCAT Secretariat’s Offi ce assists development is demonstrated by conserved in what’s called Central the Ministry of Natural Resources and the policies it implements. Securing Forest Spine, a network of forest Environment in monitoring the progress continued existence of the tiger and its complexes connected by green linkages. of the implementation annually. Although habitats, while managing the forests in Together, they would form 51,000 km2 gradual improvements are made in a sustainable manner, is an indication of of contiguous forest along the length of the number of actions completed, Malaysia’s ongoing eff ort to achieve a Peninsular Malaysia, much like a long especially in 2013, the overall level of sustainable society. We believe that the green spine. implementation has been unsatisfactory. presence of healthy tiger populations in In the Central Forest Spine, the This culminated in the continued loss large contiguous forests will signify the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan of tigers and natural forests. The loss of balanced progression of the country’s identifi es three priority areas and four biodiversity and natural forests serves ecology, society, culture and economy priority corridors. The priority areas are as an alarming proof of Malaysia’s and, ultimately, an enhancement of the Belum-Temengor Complex in the north, unsustainable economic development. quality of life of Malaysians, which is the Taman Negara National Park in the Some Malaysians became richer essence of Malaysia’s Vision 2020. centre and Endau-Rompin Complex in but the nation became poorer in her At the beginning of the millennium, the south. natural capital, at the expense of future there were only about 500 wild tigers While the northernmost corridor generations. left in Malaysia. Over three days in along the -Jeli highway is meant Our visionary plan did not fail. It 2006, experts from relevant fi elds, to ensure the contiguity of Belum- is still the best one for the Malayan including policy, land-use planning, Temengor, the southernmost corridor is tiger. However, despite a number of law enforcement, INTERPOL, customs, for Endau-Rompin. Two corridors connect milestones, overall we failed to make the forestry, timber certifi cation, park Taman Negara to its adjacent forests – plan a reality. It is time to evaluate where management, tiger biology, wildlife trade, along Sungai Yu (Yu River) to the west we are and re-strategise the priority wildlife conservation, Chinese medicine, of the park and along Kenyir Lake to the actions for the next decade, towards our road building, and environmental north. common vision for the tiger and Malaysia. education gathered and discussed a national strategy for recovering the “Our visionary plan did not fail. It is still the best one Malayan tiger population. We had the best people in the room, fi lled with for the Malayan tiger. Despite a number of milestones, great energy and hope for the future however, overall we failed to make the plan a reality.” of the tiger in Malaysia. Based on the discussions, I led and coordinated the drafting of the plan in the subsequent nine months. The draft plan underwent 17 additional meetings and 11 revisions among the MYCAT partners before submission to the Wildlife Department’s Tiger Action Plan Advisory Board. It took an additional 18 months for our common vision to become a national policy document at the end of 2008. Towards the goal of doubling the country’s tiger population from 500 to 1,000 by the year 2020, the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan lays out 80 detailed actions to be implemented by over 40 stakeholders, ranging from a researcher to the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department. Strong leadership, coordination, communication and monitoring are keys to the success of the plan. Landscapes and priority areas laid out in the Tiger Action Plan (Source: DWNP 2008).

10 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 Programme Director affi rms: “MYCAT has allowed for more openness among the NGOs; it has allowed for much more engagement with the public on tigers and their habitats, and it has pushed the Government to be more responsive to queries from NGOs and the public.” Such advances have been critical to the continued existence of the Malayan tiger.

Challenges ahead In the battle for survival, the Malayan tiger is being attacked on multiple fronts. Initial decline has primarily been attributed to large-scale loss and fragmentation of the tiger’s historical habitat as lowland forests were converted into human settlements and agricultural land. In more recent times, the tiger’s most relentless of enemies has come from the threat of poaching. No one knows this better than Regional Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia and a founding member of MYCAT, Dr. Chris R. Shepherd. “Southeast Asia is a hotspot for illegal wildlife Butchered tiger found in a man’s refrigerator in Kelantan © DWNP trade in the world. High levels of biodiversity are just getting vacuumed up”, he says with Marking milestones: In addition, MYCAT played a huge part great alarm. looking back on 10 years in the successful lobby for the development Illegally hunted for their skins, bones, With MYCAT facilitating in 2006, the of Malaysia’s new Wildlife Conservation Act blood and even sexual organs for use in Wildlife Department organised and hosted and the International Trade in Endangered medicine, trophies and talismans and sold the Malayan Tiger Conservation Workshop Species Act. Some 56,000 people worldwide at exotic meat restaurants, rapid economic with the aim of developing a National Tiger signed the petition for a better wildlife law. growth in Asia and increasing wealth of its Conservation Action Plan for Malaysia. The Successfully passed in 2010, the protection citizens has not only spurred demand for tiger plan became the nation’s roadmap, detailing status of wildlife under the new law was given parts, but converted it from one for purported the direction and specifi c actions required proper accord and stiff er penalties were health to the obscene display of wealth. Tigers for its target of doubling the estimated imposed. “It sent a strong message about are being killed to show off and their cubs population of Malaysia’s wild tigers to 1,000 how wildlife crime was going to be viewed by smuggled out alive as pets for the rich. by the year 2020. The work formed the basis the Malaysian Government. So when the law Nor is the poaching restricted to just for a triumphant appearance at the 2010 was passed, it was a very proud moment for tigers. In a clear demonstration of how the Tiger Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia. many Malaysians, including us – the MYCAT food chain works, the poaching of tiger prey Dato’ Dr. Dionysius Sharma (aka Dino), partners who had been pushing for it for a such as sambar, Asia’s largest deer species, CEO and Executive Director of WWF- long time,” says Dino. and gaur (forest buff alo) is also contributing Malaysia and fellow founding MYCAT Dr. Melvin Gumal, WCS-Malaysia to the tiger’s decline. An assessment of member recalls: “While other tiger range countries were talking about doubling the “A quick survey of literature related to tiger conservation tiger numbers at the Tiger Summit, Malaysia could say that it believed in doubling tiger reveals a startling reality: Malaysia and the Malayan tiger numbers and it had already published that as barely get a look in. We need to make more noise for the a national strategy.” In eff ect, Malaysia was ahead of the game and the world knew it. Malayan tiger, we need for its roar to be heard.”

2009

Multi-agency Tiger parts 1st Bilateral Meeting Tiger caught 6-year enforcement activities, seized in between Malaysia in a snare near moratorium using a new, transparent found and Thailand the Gerik- on hunting and effi cient system, to be from fi ve on Cooperation Jeli highway sambar and starts in Endau-Rompin, Malayan tigers in Wildlife Law rescued, but barking deer Johor Enforcement held later dies passed

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 11 tiger prey showed the critical status of the and other wildlife, from holding outreach While MYCAT engages with members sambar, and prompted MYCAT to lobby programmes in schools and night markets of the public, corporations and local for an immediate change of the sambar’s next to tiger habitats to organising the Wild communities in tiger conservation, partner legal status, from hunted species to totally Tiger Run, a 10km fun run in the city in NGOs have worked with the authorities to protected species. In response, the Malaysian support of the Malayan tiger. Face to face, shop strengthen the protection of tigers in the government instituted a six-year hunting to shop, and house to house, MYCAT and its forests. moratorium in 2009 as a stop-gap measure. 1,082 volunteers have reached out to 40,645 And yet any celebration is tempered by And yet not many Malaysians would Malaysians over the years. Yet of all these the sense that in the ten years of MYCAT’s be aware of the struggle for survival that activities, none has captured the imagination existence, so much more could have been is going on just hours from where they more than the MYCAT CAT Walk. Conducted done. If the International Tiger Summit live and work, if it were not for MYCAT’s in the Sungai Yu Tiger Corridor, a critical provided Malaysia the opportunity to eff orts. Development and urbanisation have area connecting the tiger ranges of Taman demonstrate that it had a head start on tiger distanced city dwellers from nature. In losing Negara and the Main Range, volunteers hike conservation, that fi rst mover advantage was sight of the fundamental role nature plays through tiger habitats, putting them directly lost in subsequent years. On in our lives, we run the risk of forgetting on the ground where illegal trapping, logging 2014, the Wildlife Department and MYCAT just how much we depend on it for crucial and encroachment into the park may be jointly announced that wild tiger numbers ecosystem services. If there is fl ooding, happening. CAT Walk has brought in 550 in Malaysia have fallen to as few as 250, erosion, landslides, drought, and heat waves, ‘voluntourists’ from 24 countries to Sungai Yu. eff ectively rendering the species critically the answer is to look to the forests. As the “Looking back, what has changed is the endangered in the country. famous Malay saying goes, tak kenal maka fact that people came together wanting to save tak cinta (if you don’t know it, how are you to tigers,” says Dino. “What we have done through The global shift come to love it). recent activities is to allow people to participate At an international level, there is no To that end, MYCAT, in tandem with its in tiger conservation voluntary programmes. greater time than now for the conservation partners, has organised countless activities Overall we have done really well in raising the community. Illegal wildlife trade is to spread the love for our Malayan tiger profi le of what is happening to our tigers.” recognised today as a threat to global security,

2010

National Research in Governments of all Nine Orang Asli Tiger shot dead by Citizen Action Biodiversity Sungai Yu corridor, tiger range nations detained for snaring, RELA member in Perak; for Tigers (CAT) Council adopts Pahang fi nds no unanimously agree torturing and killing government called to programme begins the Tiger Action tigers or sambar to double global tiger tiger in Perak, but review RELA fi rearm in Sungai Yu, Plan deer numbers by 2022 later acquitted possession and use Pahang

12 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 “At the end of the day we’re still losing and it’s no fault of any of the people who are trying, it’s completely the fault of the people who aren’t.”

© Jake Leong/MYCAT with support being thrown behind its halt optimism are to blame for MYCAT’s failure inertia to act in favour of tigers is down to by the Obama Administration, British Prime to deliver on some of the more fundamental the lack of perceived fi nancial incentives and Minister David Cameron and the British royal requirements of the [Tiger Action] Plan. “A economics. “People aren’t making enough family. lot of what I see today in terms of the lack money out of having wild tigers in Malaysia,” It is worth at least US$19 billion a year, of delivery is very closely linked to the lack says Chris. “Eco-tourism for tigers here making it the fourth largest illegal global trade of resources. There was the assumption isn’t the same as India. You go to a tiger after narcotics, counterfeiting, and human that these resources would come from the reserve in India, you have a good chance of traffi cking. “Globally this is recognised as government.” seeing a tiger. The terrain typical of tropical being a serious problem and governments are For Chris, shortcomings are happening in rainforests does not allow this. Kae herself putting large amounts of money towards this. spite of the eff orts being made. “At the end of has never seen a tiger in Malaysia, but one But there’s very little money being put into the day, we’re still losing and it’s no fault of any of the things I have always admired about protecting Malaysia’s tigers,” Chris laments. of the people who are trying; it’s completely Kae, is that even though she has never seen Earlier this year, Germany announced the fault of the people who aren’t.” a tiger, she recognises the importance of it. €20 million support to tiger conservation, “We have signed on to the Convention on It really doesn’t matter to her whether she’s which was followed by a British government International Trade in Endangered Species seen one or not. She’s happy just knowing announcement of £4 million to tackle illegal of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), we’ve they are there. Not enough people have that wildlife trade worldwide. Conservation signed on to the Convention on Biological attitude.” programmes for Malayan tigers are, however, Diversity, the Malaysian delegation was at the It’s a surprising turn of events given the not eligible for either grant because Malaysia London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Malaysian propensity for entrepreneurship. is an upper middle income country perceived Trade. We’re party to all of these things,” Globally there are many examples of tourism as being able to fund its own programmes. emphasises Kanitha Krishnasamy, Senior and its related business activities that bank Notwithstanding, fi nancial support of Programme Offi cer at TRAFFIC Southeast on the power of imagination and open minds. MYCAT from the Malaysian government has Asia, “Malaysia needs to realise that this is Kae explains, “It is our ignorance to believe been scant. not just a box ticking exercise.” only what we can see and our arrogance According to Dino, naiveté and false Meanwhile at the public level, part of the to call it ‘primitive’ when other creatures

Reduced to Skin and Presidential Tiger Summit Wildlife Construction of Construction of RM80 Bones reports 55-63 in St. Petersburg Russia, Conservation RM30 million wildlife million wildlife viaducts dead tigers were seized addressing global concerns Act 2010 viaducts along highway along highway near in Malaysia between on wild tigers, see donors passed near Sungai Deka, Sungai Yu, Pahang 2000 and 2010 pledging US$300 million Terengganu completed begins

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 13 “It would be absolutely ideal if the Prime Minister picked this up and ran with it as something that he wanted to be remembered for, that he’s the one that turned the tide.” perceive much wider environmental cues; I think it’s rather primitive to appreciate only things you can hold and possess.” As members of the Malaysian public, we are just as complicit in the country’s lack of progress in trying to recover tiger populations. WCS-Malaysia’s Melvin expresses frustration at our collective lack of initiative and calls it “a denial of responsibility”. Chris chimes in: “Awareness levels here in Malaysia need to translate into action. If you know there is a problem, you should do something. You really can’t say it’s terrible the tigers are disappearing but you can’t do anything – because you can.” Kae is convinced that the Malayan tiger’s survival hinges on the support of a greater mass of Malaysian public. “Malaysia is losing this battle because it’s been fought by a handful of conservation NGOs and government enforcement personnel. Saving tigers means saving Malaysia’s healthy forests. It means sustainable development and a balanced © Jake Leong/MYCAT society. Not enough people care,” she says. To wit, the public’s lack of visibility Tiger, tiger burning bright…. cover and unlike Sumatra, our forests are is matched only by that of the tiger’s. A Yet in spite of all of it, hope is not yet lost. largely linked. “We still have the habitat for quick survey of literature related to tiger “The next ten years will be the deciding 1,000 tigers,” Chris shares optimistically. conservation reveals a startling reality: decade, for the tiger and for Malaysia. It In the Southern Forest Landscape of Malaysia and the Malayan tiger barely get will have to be the turning point towards Endau-Rompin, where WCS-Malaysia a look in. “We need to be better in terms of a Malaysian society that embraces the has been working hand-in-hand with the placing ourselves out there at a global level,” diversity of lives in the truest sense”, says authorities, with the support of the royal urges Kanitha. We need to make more noise Kae. family and local government for on the ground for the Malayan tiger; we need for its roar The good news is that when there protection, tigers are making a comeback. “It’s to be heard. For all these reasons, there is a is suffi cient prey, tigers are incredibly impossible to deny that recovery is happening,” very real chance that the Malayan tiger could prodigious and mating occurs throughout Melvin says. It is welcome news for his MYCAT become extinct in our lifetime. the year. Peninsular Malaysia also still partners and provides an excellent case study retains 38 per cent of the land area as forest for a nationwide tiger turnaround.

2011 2012 Islam, Wildlife On Borrowed Time, a Research in Government announces Country’s biggest tiger Conservation & 10-minute documentary western Taman RM60 million allocation seizure (22 skulls and 8 You, a reference highlighting poaching Negara Pahang for wildlife viaducts skins) made in Kedah. book on Islam and illegal trade in Belum- fi nds tiger numbers along the Gerik-Jeli Culprit sentenced to 24 and conservation Temengor debuts have plummeted highway in Perak months jail and released since 1999 RM200,000 fi ne

14 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 position to negotiate with decision makers. Globally, WWF can walk into a room with President Obama or the UK Prime Minister and make such negotiations. We need to be at a level where we can do the same with Malaysia’s Prime Minister.” Which brings us to the Tiger Task Force. Kanitha likens the Tiger Task Force to Malaysia’s National Water Services Commission for water or the Transport Commission for transport – “specifi c bodies that are meant to look at specifi c issues”. For the Tiger Task Force it will be securing the future of Malaysia’s tigers. “We could have been more eff ective if the government institution was in the coalition as an equal partner,” says Dino. Chris too makes no bones about it: “We really need the government to set up a Tiger Task Force that’s going to lead and coordinate the next leg of the race.” Such a mandate would ensure that things get done and like any other government department, the Tiger Task Force would be audited and made accountable for its results. Issues of jurisdiction would have to fall away and collaboration would have to be fostered to meet goals. Chris singles out the Prime Minister for the role of Chairperson for the Tiger Task Force. As the leader of a country with the world’s last remaining tigers, its own tiger sub-species, a country in which the tiger appears in our national emblem, nothing could be more meaningful. “It would be absolutely ideal if the Prime Minister picked this up and Supportive Malaysian at Wild Tiger Run ran with it as something that he wanted to be remembered for, that he’s the one that turned Moving forward: The next 10 years wealth in Malaysia and there are a lot of very the tide,” he says hopefully. “[Ten years from In studying MYCAT’s annual report card and infl uential people that could get on board now] it would be nice to be able to use the assessing the wins and failures with honesty and champion the same cause that MYCAT is Malaysian government as an example of a and pragmatism, for members of the MYCAT fi ghting for,” exhorts Chris. “Whether they are government that decided to do something to coalition, the next ten years have already individuals or corporates, they really should see save the tiger and successfully did it.” been mapped out. There are two key areas of the value in MYCAT and step up and put some focus: funding and the Tiger Task Force. serious money behind it.” Changing our stripes Malaysia is not a poor nation. India and According to Kanitha, the key to this Ultimately the success or failure of our nation Nepal through a concerted eff ort have made is the perception of MYCAT as being to save its own tigers will depend on all of us. real strides in saving their tigers and rebuilding synonymous with Malayan tigers. “MYCAT Losing the Malayan tiger would symbolise the tiger populations there. You could argue that needs to be more prolifi c, as an alliance it greatest failure in conservation, not to mention Malaysia is in a much better economic place has to be seen as the authority for tigers in in achieving sustainable development. If we than any of those countries. “There’s incredible Malaysia and ensure it is in a much better cannot save the most iconic species in the

Chief Minister announces Aft er 9 years in operation, While similar studies in Open letter on commitment to revitalise MYCAT receives fi nancial other suspected tiger monoculture Joint Enforcement support from the crossing areas revealed plantations threatening Taskforce in Belum- Malaysian Government nothing, research fi nds tiger habitat sent to Temengor, Perak (Selangor State Govt.) tigers crossing in Sungai Malaysian Prime Deka corridor Terrenganu Minister

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 15 Tiger Task Force: Stop me if you’ve plan’s implementation by setting up a central coordinating structure. Senior offi cials from heard this one before…. MNRE and the Wildlife Department echoed this recommendation in a subsequent By Wong Pui May meeting with the top management of the Ministry. Taking it a step further, TRAFFIC After four years of the unsatisfactory professionals is required to integrate the Southeast Asia and WWF-Malaysia called implementation of the National Tiger planning and implementation of activities for our Prime Minister to set up and chair Conservation Action Plan, which resulted in according to various policies at the federal a Tiger Task Force at the end of 2013. To further loss of our natural forests and tigers, and state levels. date, these repeated calls by Malaysia’s the need for a game-changing initiative The Wildlife Department had conservation experts have not been was repeatedly discussed formally and suggested from the outset that Malaysia heeded. informally among the main stakeholders, should emulate the world leader in tiger Apart from the chronic problem of the including the Ministry of Natural Resources conservation, India, who has a National lack of resources and commitment, the and Environment (MNRE), Wildlife Tiger Conservation Authority that is legally Tiger Action Plan also suff ers from a lack of Department, the Forestry Department and mandated to distribute funds to tiger leadership. In tiger range countries where MYCAT, throughout 2012. reserves and monitor the management of the top leader is involved in saving their The lack of MNRE personnel dedicated such reserves. tigers, populations are recovering. to coordinating or monitoring the Tiger In 2013, the top recommendation that MYCAT urges the Prime Minister to Action Plan implementation was identifi ed emerged from the Mainstreaming Tiger create and chair a National Tiger Task as the greatest challenge to overcome. Conservation in Malaysia workshop, Force, with adequate representation from MYCAT for example, has trained or worked organised by the Wildlife Department State and Federal Government agencies with at least ten diff erent MNRE offi cials in collaboration with the Smithsonian and professional tiger conservationists, in over the years in monitoring the plan’s Conservation Biology Institute USA and order to monitor the implementation of the implementation. A dedicated team of WWF-Malaysia, was to institutionalise the plan. This task force would also be able to make executive decisions on policy, “Apart from the chronic problem of the lack of allocation of resources, enforcement and land management favourable for tiger resources and commitment, the Tiger Action Plan conservation. also suffers from a lack of leadership.” As tigers are an umbrella species, such a task force will represent so much more, and will benefi t forest and wildlife across the Peninsular. And just maybe, there will also be a benefi t to those who rely directly on the forest for their livelihood – the Orang Asli. If you are sick, you would see a doctor. If your car is giving you problems, you would go to the mechanic. The state of our environment and wildlife is in crisis, but why won’t anyone listen to the experts? The times when tiger, forestry and environment experts keep repeating themselves like broken records need to end. Perhaps it is time for Malaysian citizens to get informed and stand up for what we love, to demand that our natural heritage is protected, and ironically, to live out the essence of our government’s slogan – “Biodiversity. Our Life, Our Heritage, Our © Loretta Ann Shepherd/MYCAT Future”. 2013

Green Court Development Research fi nds A 50% decline in Global tiger report 189 km2 of forest formed halted in the tigers crossing in tiger numbers since Reduced to Skin and Bones: fl anking the Gerik-Jeli to handle sensitive Sungai Belum-Temengor 2004 recorded in Revisited reveals tiger highway that separates environment- Deka corridor, corridor in Perak Gunung Basor Forest parts equivalent to 36 Belum and Temengor related cases Terengganu Reserve, Kelantan tigers seized in Malaysia gazetted as Amanjaya between 2010-2012 Forest Reserve

16 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 “Kae’s dream is for Malaysians to take ownership of the struggle to conserve the natural wonders in our backyard. For Malayan tigers this dream needs to find its reality and be scaled up fast” Wild Tiger Run © Timothy Teoh/MYCAT world, what hope do we have for saving less ownership of the struggle to conserve the over low sentences for tiger poachers and charismatic wild animals, or plants, or indeed natural wonders in our backyard. “A wild traders. We have the power to hold our ourselves? place reminds us of our humble existence on governmental agencies accountable for their “When the video of A’Famosa’s this planet. It has to be protected as a window actions and inertia. We have the power within mistreatment of its captive tiger surfaced to experience the great something out there, our own social circle to share and inform, three years ago, people rallied round within the love and unity with the universe,” she inspire and move people to action, to use our a day. Some would say it’s a welfare issue, but says wistfully. For Malayan tigers, this dream infl uence to raise national concern for tigers still it was a tiger and people were willing needs to fi nd its reality and be scaled up fast. and motivation for tiger conservation. to act immediately,” Kanitha reminds us, “People need to recognise that this is urgent,” When asked what the Malayan tiger proving that we can mobilise, we just need to says Chris. symbolises, the answers from the founding do so more often. If we are fortunate, we may be standing members of the coalition were myriad – So do we care enough to ensure our tigers at a crossroads. We are the generation that national icon, umbrella species, symbol of don’t die out? Poaching has already driven the decides. And we have more power than we strength and spirituality. Perhaps Chris sums wild banteng and Javan rhino to extinction can imagine. “Malaysians underestimate the it up most accurately. “The Malayan tiger in Peninsular Malaysia. We cannot allow our power of each individual,” Kanitha asserts. symbolises success or failure,” he says. It is tigers to follow the same tragic fate. We have the power to speak up over forest profound and causes pause for refl ection. So Kae’s dream is for Malaysians to take losses in the blind pursuit of development, what will it be, Malaysia?

Call made for Memorandum 2,500 people Public Service Department Research in to be to set up Tiger participate in approves 66 posts for law Endau-Rompin, totally protected Task Force sent to MYCAT’s Wild enforcement, including Johor fi nds under Wildlife Malaysian Prime Tiger Run in creation of the fi rst legal increasing tiger Conservation Act Minister positions in Malaysia’s population 2010 Wildlife Department © JNPC DWNP PANTHERA WCS-MY

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 17 © WWF-Malaysia/Christopher Wong

KNOWLEDGE ike many other countries, Malaysia’s earliest knowledge documentation Lon tigers was by ex-hunters such as Arthur Locke who wrote the book Tigers of Terengganu. Interestingly enough, What we it was based on this piece of literature that we thought Malaysia had as many as 3,000 tigers in the late 1950s. In the 1970s, know and research on tigers was focused mainly on livestock depredation and it was not until the late 1990s that several studies attempting to assess the status of tigers with the use of don’t know camera traps began to emerge and produced the fi rst science-based estimates for tigers – this technology radically changed our understanding of just how many tigers there about the are in Malaysia. We now know roughly how many tigers there are in three priority tiger sites within Malayan tiger the country based on camera trap data from government and NGO researchers. Unfortunately, we still have no proper understanding of how tigers are faring By D. Mark Rayan and G. Reuben Clements outside these priority sites. We do know

18 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 KNOWLEDGE “It seems that a paradigm shift of valuing and viewing biodiversity as natural capital is required, if the of tigers is to be placed high up on the national agenda.”

that habitat loss and poaching are the main threats to tigers. However, we are still trying to better understand how tigers respond to habitat alteration and other anthropogenic impacts. As we progress to be a developed nation by 2020, it is apparent that our development is proceeding at the expense of biodiversity conservation, as shown by the ever increasing threats of poaching, degradation and loss of natural forest. It seems that a paradigm shift of valuing and viewing biodiversity as natural capital is required if the conservation status of tigers is to be placed high up on the national agenda. Therein lies the challenge in translating biodiversity values and ecosystem services into measurable economic properties, so that the long-term gains of preserving tigers and their habitat can be clearly shown. On refl ection, perhaps the question we need to ask ourselves is this: how can we use scientifi c evidence to compel decision makers to bring about changes © WWF-Malaysia/Christopher Wong needed for the recovery of the Malayan tiger? In the past decade, we have seen research The recent announcement of declining tiger benefi ts and plenty of time away from family fi ndings guiding strategic anti-poaching numbers illustrates the need for a robust and friends. One way to breed a larger pool of eff orts, the establishment of wildlife corridors nationwide tiger survey to be carried out by local conservation biologists is for academics and a forest reserve, halting development the government and NGOs, hand in hand. But to infuse more conservation biology topics in important tiger habitats as well as the do we have suffi cient manpower to do this? into their undergraduate curriculum and establishment of a hunting moratorium on At the moment, the sad answer is no. initiate ecology projects into their the sambar deer. Evidence-based decision The Wildlife Department, due to lack of graduate research programmes. At the making is happening. However, if the manpower and funds, is unable to regularly same time, NGO researchers should develop complacency of the nation in reducing loss of monitor tiger populations outside Malaysia’s closer ties with academics, who can not only natural forest and poaching continues, wild largest protected area, Taman Negara. In arrange biodiversity conservation talks to Malayan tigers will no longer persist over the fact, researchers from NGOs have for some inspire and expose undergraduates, but also next few decades. time been helping to monitor tigers in other link up promising biologists with NGOs. Amidst this bleak scenario is the hopeful regions such as Belum-Temengor, Kenyir, Ultimately, knowledge is power. We promise that if focused interventions Sungai Yu and Endau-Rompin. However, need to urgently know how many tigers are were applied over the next decade, there the main problem restricting NGOs from left, where they are and how they are doing. will be a real chance to reverse the decline recruiting vast teams of tiger researchers Without this knowledge, it would be diffi cult of wild Malayan tigers. The National to cover more ground is lack of sustainable to continue convincing our political leaders Tiger Conservation Action Plan, which funding. Indeed, local private companies can to commit resources to save the Malayan was developed in 2008, aims to double do more to support local tiger conservation tiger. But alas, we cannot just depend on Malaysia’s wild tiger population to 1,000 eff orts. Another reason for the diffi culty researchers to save this species. The evidence adult individuals by the year 2020. Best in recruiting is the shrinking pool of local on show overwhelmingly suggests that we evidence now suggests that we may be down graduates who want to pursue a career as need a concomitant increase in resources to 250-340 tigers in the country and so we a conservation biologist, which can be a for enforcement if we want to prevent our are probably not going to achieve this target. demanding job often with little monetary national icon from going extinct.

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 19 THREAT Fighting the real beast: illegal trade

By Kanitha Krishnasamy and Elizabeth John

© Akira Leyow/TRAFFIC

his year, illegal wildlife trade this battle, a cloud of silence prevailed in To a large extent, the discussions dominated the global conservation Malaysia. Conservation policies and laws have been about whether or not these Tagenda. Big names in the political, are in place, but the public commitment were Malayan tigers, tigers from outside sporting and entertainment scene – plus to fight this crime appears lacking at the country or those from captive-bred a prince or two – were moved to action, the highest levels of decision-making in populations. When a video released in the making influential decisions, elevating Malaysia. This seeming nonchalance and UK showing five Malaysian men involved the platform for discussion and shaping the systematic removal of tigers from the in killing a tiger went viral in 2009, the growing commitment towards ending wild will be the ’s ultimate ruin. preoccupation was with finding out who wildlife trafficking. Tigers are hunted and traded for their had leaked the video to the British. As heads of nations from the Presidents skins, bones, blood and even sexual organs Considering that the wild tiger of the United States, , Gabon, South for use as medicine, trophies, talismans population is at crisis levels here and Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Russia to and exotic meat. In Malaysia, parts of at elsewhere around the world, the concern the Prime Ministers of the UK, Thailand least 92 tigers have been seized from 2003 shouldn’t be about what species of tigers and Viet Nam threw their weight behind to 2013. these are or who released the information

20 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 THREAT

“Malaysia is very likely to continue losing a significant part of its tiger population to hunting and trade unless kingpins are © Farid Ibrahim/MYCAT caught and convicted.”

on illegal hunting and trade. As important involved in this illegal trade include armed Based on the path trodden by other as the answers to these questions may be, robbers (who also happen to smuggle tigers keystone wildlife such as rhinos and the more crucial fact should be that tigers and other wildlife), zoo operators, restaurant elephants, the dedication with which are being hunted and traded illegally in owners, security personnel and villagers. smugglers are getting better organised, Malaysia, by Malaysians who supply the Tigers have been found chopped into pieces and the improvement of infrastructure and animal and its parts to the black market. or tied at the limbs, shot, speared and snared transportation systems, Malaysia is very In February 2012, the Wildlife and subsequently hidden in homes, vehicles likely to continue losing a signifi cant part of Department arrested a man in possession or restaurants until a prospective buyer is its tiger population to hunting and trade. of bones, skulls and skins amounting to found. Unless kingpins are caught and convicted. 22 tigers, nine tusks and deer The information shows those involved Law enforcement efforts have yielded antlers. He was subsequently jailed 24 in this crime aren’t just going after tigers some great seizures and convictions. But months and fined RM 200,000 (USD – they are also vacuuming tiger prey such to truly beat the odds and keep the species 67,000). For this crime, he could have been as deer and wild pigs out of forests. This alive in Malaysia, two things must change. looking at up to 13 years in jail or fines spurred the government to ban the hunting The first is to take wildlife crime seriously exceeding a million ringgit (USD 300,000). of the sambar and barking deer, but only and pursue the criminals and syndicates The trial revealed several interesting until 2015. Removing the tiger’s main behind it with the determination of a finds: he was an odd-job worker and welder food source brings serious repercussions, man preparing for battle. The second is in a village who paid RM 70,000 (USD including human-wildlife conflict. to establish a National Tiger Task Force, 23,000) in bail on the spot. He maintained Johor, Kedah, Pahang, Perak and a body with the clout and the currency that he was not the owner of the wildlife Kelantan have seen the highest number to tackle poaching, protect habitats parts, rather that he was keeping it for a Thai of tiger part seizures. This highlights two and safeguard prey – a body that won’t national from whom he went to great lengths major points: the states are either home to get mired in quibbles over jurisdiction, to pick the items up. However, he failed to Malaysia’s tiger priority sites or notorious funding or policy direction. provide any further details. gateways for the smuggling of tigers and If used well, Malaysia’s strong National While this man was punished, the other wildlife out of the country, or both. Tiger Conservation Action Plan and tough masterminds behind this operation escaped. Malaysia has already lost the Javan laws, with its hefty penalties, can create Who are they? How long have they been in rhino, the green peafowl and a number of a forbidding environment for wildlife operation? What other criminal activities other plants and animals. The banteng is criminals. Like Thailand, couple these are they involved in? How are these criminal gone from Peninsular Malaysia. A handful eff orts with the use of money laundering laws networks linked? How do they operate and of Sumatran rhinos are hanging by a to uncover and shut down the vast tentacles how have they done so without being caught? thread in Sabah, with the species likely of criminal syndicates. Weed out corruption. Can information on their fi nances and extinct in Peninsular Malaysia. And in the Make intelligence-led investigations a focus. travels held by Bank Negara or the Customs worst case scenario – if all of the seizures Equip, train and professionalise ranger and and Immigration Department shed some in the past decade are indeed parts of wild enforcement services. light on their operations? These questions Malayan tigers – we have lost about 20% of If Malaysia can do this with vigour, must be answered if Malaysia intends to end the estimated tiger population to trade. resources and full government support, tiger trade. Are we in real danger of losing them it may just take back the upper hand from Scrutiny of seizure data shows that those all? Yes. poachers and keep its unique tigers.

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 21 PROTECTION Needing a perfect “10”: impressions from the last 10

By Melvin Gumal

hen I fi rst started out as head of Wildlife Conservation need to be aware of poachers and be really careful, her immediate Society (WCS) in Malaysia back in 2003, tiger reply was, “Based on my research, poaching is not an issue in Taman Wconservation was one of the key issues that I knew I Negara at the moment.” At that time, this was true. But fast forward would have to deal with. This majestic beast has always captured to 2014, and MYCAT’s repeated comments are now “We need to ramp everyone’s imagination, from children to adults, and with numbers up anti-poaching patrols in Taman Negara and Belum-Temenggor to fast dwindling in other parts of the world, it is a species that cannot the levels of those in Endau-Rompin Johor and Pahang.” be ignored. I had heard of MYCAT, the coalition. I had even read In my ideal world, large wild cats like tigers and leopards should about it in the papers, nine months after I had become head of be at the densities seen during our early years of independence. It was WCS in Malaysia. Finally in my 11th month in offi ce in 2003, I met a time where animals roamed free in our forests, and wildlife came the woman who was a key fi gure in tiger conservation in Malaysia, close to our villagers’ door-steps. At that time (through my rose-tinted Dr. Kae Kawanishi of MYCAT. Prior to this, I had asked my other glasses), our people had much more respect for the laws, for our civil colleagues, “What do you call this woman?” Their responses service and politicians. In turn, both the politicians governed and were, “Dr. Kay to some, and Dr. Kai to others”. the civil service administered with fairness and justice. Perhaps In this cold offi ce in a government compound, where the air- indeed, this was a time when Malaysians were less ruthless, more conditioner was blasting, she gave me a fi rm handshake. Strong hand. patient with each other and more benign to our natural resources. In Harder stare. Better not get on the wrong side of this woman. Small fact, our natural resources were also shared by a smaller population. and very spirited. Single-minded and watching my every move. And Perhaps also, it was a time when globalisation and complete unabated during the course of our fi rst conversation, when I indicated that we movement of poachers was non-existent. Perhaps, perhaps perhaps….

22 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 PROTECTION

In view of all these realities, it is therefore inevitable that tools such as enforcement partnerships, transparency, accountability, a much more focused strategy, better trained enforcement staff , greater patrolling eff orts and patrolling coverage and use of ‘better’ technology are being constantly called for, and are seen as a panacea to solve all ills pertaining to poaching and loss of wildlife and to bring wildlife back to its glory (again in my rose-tinted glasses). And these tools are increasingly being used in most of our landscapes and are being pushed not just by the NGOs, but also by some altruistic and moralistic members of the civil service. And as the poachers increase in numbers, spread their eff orts, become cleverer at avoiding the authorities and have a better network of anti-surveillance, our enforcement eff orts, therefore, inevitably But, our reality and the one that I am living in, is NOW. In must increase. For if not, we are not just fi ghting a losing battle; 2014, I am seeing hoards of poachers roaming our landscapes, land we are witnessing a losing battle at close quarters and this is very conversions, not for the NEED for development, but for the WANT demoralising. Having worked with some of our altruistic anti- of its riches. It is also a time when Malaysian NGOs tend to be less poaching teams for several years, I fear for their morale and pray that confrontational and instead, opt for ‘cooperation’, even when we know they have the energy to keep going. that we will lose, and our hypothetical lines in the sand will be crossed I end with an encounter with another strong woman, Dr. Vidya repeatedly. It is almost like Malaysian NGOs are living in a ‘Stockholm Athreya, a leopard biologist working in the urban landscape in Syndrome1’ and are partial to repeatedly want to absolve certain sins. Mumbai. Her words of wisdom – ‘big cats can exist with humans even Unfortunately, in our urban landscapes for as long it is a time when “In my ideal world, large wild cats like tigers as we have greater empathy for these enforcement animals, protect them, understand agencies are and leopards should be at the densities seen their requirements and accept that inadequate in during our early years of independence.” we do have to live with some form of their eff orts, and confl ict. The Indian population, be it their understanding of the threats. It is also a time when they have in towns and villages, tend to have greater acceptance and sympathy for an inability to strategise and focus correctly across all fi elds. Instead, wildlife’. In my future, I hope for the same – a Malaysian populace with they perpetuate a false calmness when indeed there is a storm and it is greater sympathy for wildlife. The sympathy must also be coupled with a not in ‘a tea cup’. In a moment of clarity, a minister even indicated that passion for greater commitment and enforcement so that our large cats Malaysia practices ‘political patronage’ – and most things are done, if are not lost in our lifetime and our children’s. We are already responsible there is a reward for their actions and not for the pure altruism that he for losses of other species and indeed some have become extinct had witnessed in his earlier political life. He further commented that during our watch. We would not want the tiger to be another species this ‘norm’ now transcends much of the administration. lost to human greed, while we bleated like sheep instead of being the shepherds protecting and leading the species to safety.

1 In this context, Stockholm Syndrome would mean NGOs (captive in this declining environmental loss) expressing empathy, sympathy and have positive feelings, sometimes to the point of defending the wrongs that are perpetrated by the poachers, land degradation authorities and the inadequacies of the enforcement agencies

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 23 PROTECTION

© DWNP © DWNP Trend of poaching and patrol

RETROSPECT: condition as tigers were also surgically removed by poachers in a. Prior to the 1990s, wild animals were killed mostly by Malaysian the past decade. If there is no major enforcement eff ort done to poachers. This changed by the early 1990s when a surge of Thai combat the losses, these two countries could lose all their wild nationals started the illegal extraction of agarwood (gaharu). Some of tigers before 2020. those whom were arrested by the Wildlife Department carried snares and fi rearms for poaching wildlife. To combat these commercial b. In the next decade, if the anti-poaching eff orts continue to be poachers targeting high-end wildlife such as the , the inadequate, tigers could disappear from most parts of Malaysia Wildlife Department’s Rhino Protection Units regularly patrol rhino except possibly in locations where they have been protected by habitats, coinciding with those of tigers, in the late 1990s. The patrols on-going intensive patrols. were partially funded by international donors. NEEDS: b. When rhinoceros numbers plummeted and approached a. Tigers can make a comeback. If the anti-poaching eff ort includes a extinction, i.e. at the beginning of the millennium, the price of better informant network, fi eld patrols that are incisive and carried other commercially valuable wildlife such as pangolins and tigers out with greater frequency, and the eff ort is spread over the tiger soared. Reported fi gures for tigers went from about RM 2,000 per landscape, it gives tigers a chance to rebuild their population. animal in 2003 to over RM 100,000 by 2013. b. To adequately protect Taman Negara, for example, the Wildlife c. The poaching incidents continued over the fi rst decade in the Department needs to increase their patrol eff orts, be much new millennia. This was recorded not just by NGOs, but also by more focused at their patrols, and engage with like-minded government statistics. To combat the increase, anti-poaching organisations to jointly deter poaching. Just how much eff ort eff orts also increased, albeit and admittedly not enough to cope is needed? Huai Kha Kheng, a well-protected wildlife reserve with the illegal incursions. in Thailand where tigers and other wildlife are safe despite its proximity to the Myanmar border, has on average, 9.2 full-time d. Thus, by 2001 the military had to be called in to patrol protected enforcement/patrol staff in every 100 km2 of the land. To achieve areas as the poachers were carrying arms and were much the same intensity of foot-patrols in Taman Negara, the Wildlife more militant in nature. The military continues to be part of the Department would need at least 400 personnel patrolling the enforcement eff ort to date in Taman Negara and in Endau-Rompin. park FULL TIME. The current manpower is only a fraction of what’s needed even when military personnel and the Wildlife Department PREDICTION: staff from outside Taman Negara are brought in part-time to boost a. If the anti-poaching eff orts are inadequate, tigers could disappear the ground coverage. Protecting wildlife in Taman Negara needs in large parts of Malaysia in the next decade, as witnessed in to be a full-time job and the Public Service Department needs to Cambodia by the mid 2000s. Laos and Myanmar are in critical recognise this and open vacancies for such positions.

24 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 CAT WALK A walk on wild’s side

By Lavaniadevi Gopalakrishnan

© Harrison Ooi/MYCAT

ootsteps echo in the Similar to a neighbourhood Hotline. MYCAT then relays the wildlife, suggesting poachers forest. A group of watch (or Rukun Tetangga for information to the authorities are slowly being rooted out from Fpeople hike in a single Malaysians), MYCAT has brought for action. In eff ect, CAT Walk the area. Occasionally, tiger line along a logging road, their this idea one step further – into provides much needed “boots pugmarks or images of sambar eyes scrutinising the trail our forests to jointly safeguard on the ground” and “eyes and on camera traps are starting to for something. They are seen our wildlife and heritage, ears” in the forest. And most welcome volunteers. almost every weekend here, in a complementing the patrol eff orts importantly, CAT Walk slowly Today, CAT Walk is very relatively unknown part of the by Taman Negara rangers inside but surely nurtures a sense of popular, showing that the public Malaysian forest, occasionally the park. ownership and stewardship over is willing to take up the reins to even spending the night in the With the ultimate goal of nature amongst the volunteers, help protect endangered wildlife. forest. Who are these people, and protecting and recovering the moulding them into future The mantle of responsibility is what are they looking for? tiger population in the corridor conservation champions. not only taken up by individual They are members of members of the public, but also the general public, MYCAT “Wrongdoers are unlikely to carry out shared by some corporations volunteers participating in its willing to “donate” their staff fl agship programme, Citizen their activities in a place frequented by time to walk the corridor as Action for Tigers (CAT). CAT people, especially those who are alert to “green” CSR. involves citizen conservationists Strong support from the in the protection of an important the possibility of crimes in progress.” public fuels MYCAT’s hope of wildlife corridor along Sungai expanding the CAT programme Yu in Pahang. This stretch of and Taman Negara, CAT enables Since the programme’s to other important tiger forest is divided by a highway volunteer conservationists inception in 2010, 550 volunteers habitats. Is this possible? Can that provides ease of access not only to deter poaching of 24 nationalities have detected an individual really make a for poachers into the adjacent and encroachment by their and deactivated 83 snares, while diff erence in saving a species Taman Negara. mere presence, but also to save walking 584 km in the corridor! nearing extinction? The The premise behind the wildlife by deactivating snares Presently, MYCAT is seeing a indisputable answer is yes! CAT programme is simple. or traps found during a guided declining trend of threats to Wrongdoers are unlikely to carry recreational walk. Some tricky out their activities in a place walks are guided by local Orang Visit www.citizenactionfortigers.my frequented by people, especially Asli. If volunteers encounter for more information to join CAT Walk those who are alert to the any suspicious activities, they possibility of crimes in progress. call the 24-7 Wildlife Crime or support the programme.

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 25 “This trend of habitat loss is increasing and expected to continue. If this is not halted or reversed, Malaysia will fail not just in its global promise to save tigers or avoid deforestation, but much more.”

FORESTRY When the going gets rough

By Kanitha Krishnasamy

ast year, when I fi rst shared news of these areas are forest reserves; the very (MNRE) and the Ministry of Plantations and with friends and family that Malaysia areas being converted for plantations and Commodities (MPIC) for forest conservation Lrecorded the world’s highest industrialisation purposes. To put this into versus forest conversion. deforestation rate over a 12 year period, the perspective, in the 12 years that we lost all In 2005, the Malaysian Cabinet endorsed fi rst and almost unanimous response was that forest cover, oil palm plantations grew Peninsular Malaysia’s National Physical “Isn’t that old news?”. by about 50%. Plan (NPP) – a spatial planning policy with The fact that Malaysia lost some 4.7 Anyone working in conservation has a primary objective of urbanisation through million hectares of forest from 2000-2012, heard the “forest is a state matter” line from sustainable development, keeping in mind an area almost six times the size of Selangor, just about everyone in government. True as the country’s various sectoral policies. The didn’t seem to faze Malaysians as much, as that is, through the years, this has become a result was the identifi cation of areas and many were under the impression that this mantra used almost as an excuse for inaction priorities for infrastructure development, was normal. and a lack of accountability. agriculture, environmental protection and This year, this record has been The loss of Malaysia’s forest is a many others. overtaken by . When the news culmination of decades of poor decision Also in 2005, the Malaysian Cabinet hit global headlines, one could almost hear making and government back-paddling, authorised the MPIC to initiate an the inaudible sigh of relief; that we were some of which nullify government planning aggressive programme to develop forest no longer the world’s worst perpetrator. processes. One arm of the government plantations throughout the country, with Whether we are on the number one or comes up with a confl icting policy and rubber making a monumental comeback. number fi ve spot is not as signifi cant stated intention from the other arm of the The MPIC’s National Timber Industry Policy as Malaysia continuously being on this government. An example plaguing Malaysia’s aims to create 3,750 km2 of plantations from undesirable list for many years. biodiversity conservation eff orts is the 2006-2020. More alarming is that State Only about 15% of key tiger habitats battle (or lack of) between the Ministry Governments have identifi ed more than this are totally protected, while a vast majority of Natural Resources and Environment amount of areas for plantation expansion,

26 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 FORESTRY

which begs the question, “Which native and biodiversity. But they are not achieving But the simple fact of the matter is forests are we going to lose next?” what these were intended to achieve, and that economic gains are overriding sound The two Ministries aside, it is the State sometimes serve as a smokescreen for conservation policies and decision-makers Governments that ultimately pulls the indiscriminate forest conversion and logging, are not seeing the forest for the trees. This strings, shaping Malaysia’s forest landscapes, encroachment, illegal wildlife hunting and situation must be reversed: the Federal or the lack of it. No forest is excised, trade, all of which violate the fundamental Government must re-examine forest and no plantations are created without the existence of the MNRE. Areas subjected to plantation management policies currently in endorsement of the state Executive Council. certifi cation audits are a mere fraction of a place, including the fi nancial subsidies and These issues are not as easily dealt with particular state’s forests which, nonetheless, mechanisms that serve as perverse incentives in the current governance system – deals result in an entire state being certifi ed as for deforestation. Halt inappropriate and have been made, money has exchanged sustainably managed. This has serious indiscriminate conversion of natural hands. Multibillion dollar investors with implications for large states with huge forests to monoculture plantations. the most powerful voice, and those profi ting expanse of forests, such as Pahang, Kelantan, Strictly prohibit any logging or conversion from these deals – both governments and Terengganu and Perak: the very states where in tiger priority forests and corridors. individuals – are at an advantage to steer plantation expansion is targeted and where Reclassify forest management units, that the decisions that result in where land is tigers have a fi ghting chance. are subjected to forest certifi cation audits, parcelled out for various purposes; thus This trend of habitat loss is increasing from the current state to district level, disregarding conservation policies. and expected to continue. If this is not at the minimum, and give a state-wide The nett result of this disconnect and halted or reversed, Malaysia will fail not certifi cation only when all the units are vested interests between State and Federal just in its global promise to save tigers certifi ed. State Governments must also Governments is clear: more tiger habitats or avoid deforestation, but much more. be compelled to make transparent the cleared to make way for plantations, The impact will be more personal with notifi cation of degazetting forests prior to particularly oil palm and rubber. Tigers Malaysians losing the right to clean air and decision to excise, and the involvement of and other wildlife are losing their homes water, healthy forests that sequester carbon, the public as a whistle-blower is critical. completely while others are left in isolated, forest-dwelling communities losing their So, this is not a question of completely fragmented pockets. Tigers cannot survive in livelihoods and much more. ending plantation expansion or logging plantations. That said, all is not lost. Today, we still operations to save tigers. This is a question Forest certifi cation tools such as those have suffi cient forest cover to keep our of penny, pride and prioritisation – where to being administrated by the Malaysian Timber Malayan tigers for generations to come and log sustainably, where to create plantations, Certifi cation Council and the MPIC are meant the hope among conservationists shines where to prohibit conversion and where to to improve forest governance, protect people somewhat brightly. save tigers.

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 27 POLICY Harmonising the management of protected areas by Federal and State Governments

By Sivananthan Elagupillay

he designation of Protected Areas could interpret this as a precedent, set since to gazette new national parks in Peninsular (PAs) in Malaysia, in particular 1939, enabling the Federal Government Malaysia as identifi ed in the Third Malaysia TPeninsular Malaysia, has been a together with the State Governments to Plan. Among them included the Endau- protracted issue especially after the country be involved directly in the management of Rompin area at the Johor and Pahang borders. achieved independence in 1957. Under the wildlife and PAs. However, to designate new PAs, the consent of Malaysian Constitution, Wildlife and National Following independence, one of the the State Government is needed. It was at this Parks (which we can refer to as Protected initiatives undertaken by the Federal juncture that the State Governments began Areas) are Concurrent Issues. This means both Government was to strengthen wildlife to give serious attention to the designation the Federal Government and the respective management. It started off with the passing of new PAs on their own initiatives. The State Governments can pass federal or state of a federal legislation, the Protection of State Governments viewed PAs as land and legislation and create agencies to administer Wildlife Act in 1972 in Parliament. This was forestry issues that are state matters under these matters. followed by the federalisation of State DWNPs the Constitution. Secondly, states considered Prior to independence, wildlife and PA from the respective State Governments and that there was an opportunity cost which matters were handled by the respective State bringing them directly under the Federal could be lost forever and, therefore, the State Governments. The exception to this was the DWNP, a process that was only completed in Governments should be compensated for the management of Taman Negara National Park. the late 1970s. At the same time the Federal designation of new PAs. Since 1939, Taman Negara has been managed Government, through the Ministry of Science, To address the State Governments’ by the Federal Government through the Technology and Environment (MOSTE), concerns, in the 1990s the Federal Director General (then Chief Game Warden) embarked on enlarging the PA network in Government through the Ministry of Culture, of the Department of Wildlife and National Malaysia with a long list of potential PAs Arts and Tourism, added economic incentives Parks (DWNP) Peninsular Malaysia. However, identifi ed for designation in the Third through the implementation of the National the gazetting of Taman Negara was achieved Malaysia Plan (1976-1980). Ecotourism Plan with specifi c budget through three separate but similar state To undertake this mammoth task, MOSTE, allocations to develop ecotourism sites. To legislations passed by the State Governments through Parliament, passed the National take advantage of such incentives, several of Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu. One Parks Act in 1980. The purpose of this law was State Governments created new PAs, including

28 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 POLICY

© Abraham Mathew/MYCAT

Johor and Perak, which designated Endau- Governments are keen on managing their and criteria to receive additional funds. Rompin National Park and Royal Belum State own PAs and that this has resulted in the At the state and agency levels, this Park, respectively. These State Government- development of several PA systems within project will strengthen the capacity to managed PAs, which were also in the Third the country, the Federal Government manage the state/agency PA systems. At the Malaysia Plan list, are important sites for tiger through the Ministry of Natural Resources ground level, the management and business conservation and ecotourism. and Environment has now initiated an plans of Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia has been successful in the incentive-based mechanism to streamline Endau Rompin National Park and Royal creation of many PAs to conserve the diverse and harmonise the management of PAs for Belum State Park will be developed so that biodiversity resources of the country and conservation-based objectives. This is being wildlife management, law enforcement and to promote ecotourism. community and stakeholders’ However, the designation “The fates of habitats for wildlife such as tigers involvement will be mechanism used is also are in the hands of many management agencies strengthened. Since all three diverse, leading to a PAs are important Malayan long list of legislation that all need assistance to manage these tiger conservation sites, these and agencies associated habitats to an acceptable standard.” initiatives will enhance the with PA management in protection of the source tiger Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah. implemented under DWNP through the populations that will eventually spread out to In addition, there are many wildlife-rich Global Environment Facility-funded and surrounding tiger landscapes. habitats outside the present PAs that need to United Nations Development Programme- The Federal Government hopes to be upgraded to PAs. As a result, the fates of supported Protected Areas Financing Project. replicate this policy initiative in other states, habitats for wildlife such as tigers are in the At the national level, the project will support and in the long run ensure Malaysia’s PAs are hands of many management agencies that all the establishment of a national conservation well managed with a sustainable fi nancing need assistance to manage these habitats to trust fund managed by the Ministry of Natural mechanism in place that will ultimately an acceptable standard. Resources and Environment, as well as benefi t the conservation of wildlife, including Acknowledging that the State develop national standards for PA governance the Malayan tiger.

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 29 SUSTAINABILITY Wild tigers and the tiger economy: an intimate tango for life

By Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu

he term tiger economy has been and other important ecosystem services. grumbling in kopitiams1 about how we should coined by economists to represent In fact, for us in Malaysia, our culture better manage our water catchment areas and Tthe rapid economic growth some and lifestyle have been woven by our rich forest. The loss of the Malayan tiger on the Asian countries, including Malaysia, have and biodiversity. Just look at the cultural expressions contrary will have the eff ect of the proverbial continue to experience. As for Malaysia, the found in our communities. Dance, art forms as frog in the boiling water! prefi x tiger has a direct correlation to the growth well as traditional games and music have derived Biodiversity becomes even more that we want to achieve as per the nation’s Vision inspiration from our rich biodiversity. important, as the nation has embarked on the 2020. This growth is not just economic growth, This biodiversity we inherited has to be Bio-economy Transformation Programme to but also a growth that embraces sustainability protected, but unfortunately it’s often taken leverage on the country’s rich biodiversity for and well-being: where biodiversity is not for granted. The recent report of the dwindling generating wealth to furnace socioeconomic compromised in the name of growth. wild tiger numbers did not get the same level development as envisioned through the New Malaysia is one of the 12 richest countries of attention or reaction compared to when a Economic Model. While this programme in terms of biodiversity. Our biodiversity is pair of giant pandas came to town. seems to be a promising tool, we must always crucial, not only in providing us with food, The loss of the charismatic Malayan tigers remember that for Malaysia “bio-economy” in medicine, fi bre and other products, but also will presumably have no impact on us, as we its most basic defi nition is not new. Malaysia in performing the vital services to sustain can’t “see” them. The water crisis in early has always been a country that has benefi ted life on earth by providing fresh water and air, 2014 is a clear example of how we react only if from our rich biodiversity base. regulating weather, pollination, soil formation issues aff ect us directly. Now we hear people From the time of early Hindu civilisation

© Eric Vts

30 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 and the great Malacca Empire, through the saving this majestic and national icon. manned (both in numbers and expertise) colonial years and right up to present times, This crash in tiger numbers is a refl ection and funded to implement and take concrete our biodiversity and natural resources have of what is happening to biodiversity. If this actions. This Authority will be the focal been a major contributing factor to our success trend continues, the supporting services agency for the National Tiger Conservation in terms of economic growth. that biodiversity provides will decline. This Action Plan, as well as the secretariat for the Hence, it is time we look at new models collapse in ecosystem services will eventually high level committee above; ‘Beyond GDP’ for measuring our development. grab the ‘tiger’ away from our tiger economy. c) Tiger conservation is also fundamental It is about time we look at the social and It will make us limp like a wounded tiger. If to national security as many poachers are environmental parameters alongside the we do not act now with a bold game change, foreigners. The recently launched 1Malaysia dominant economic indicators to measure we will not only lose our tigers, but also see Biodiversity Enforcement Network development and progress. The Science Advisor an eventual collapse of our economy, growth (1MBEON) should step up its enforcement to our Rt. Hon. Prime Minister advocates that and well-being. We, as a nation, would have by mobilising other relevant agencies such conservation and sustainable use of resources lost our soul. We can’t aff ord a Malaysia with a as the General Operation Force of the Royal is not a hindrance to development, but it is landscape without wild tigers. Malaysian Police; and fundamental to development and promotes The game change should include the d) The National Natural Resources wellbeing and sustainability. following: Conservation Trust Fund2 should A good approach for Malaysia to conserve a) A high level committee chaired by the Rt. have a dedicated window to fund tiger her biodiversity is by preserving the Malayan Hon. Prime Minister to address the rapid conservation and related activities tiger, which is an apex predator. Protecting an decline of the Malayan tigers. This committee adequately on a sustained manner with apex predator will also protect biodiversity. In has to be geared to implement swift actions funds from the government, the private 2009, Malaysia took a huge step in unveiling with adequate resources mobilised to sector and other sources including the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan meet the aspirations of the National Tiger alternative fi nancing schemes. to double the wild tiger numbers up to 1,000 Conservation Action Plan. This committee by 2020. But a recent report by the Wildlife has to put the plan back on track, not just for We need to act now, if not we may lose our Department and MYCAT has shown a drastic the tigers but for our own survival; tigers, our tiger economy and much much more. drop to around 300 individuals. This is b) Set up a dedicated National Malaysia Tiger This symbiotic relationship of wild tigers and alarming as we are reaching tipping points in Conservation Authority, which is well tiger economy is a tango for life itself!

1 Kopitiams are traditional coff ee shops 2 The establishment of the National Natural Resources Conservation Trust Fund was adopted by the Malaysian Parliament on 27 November 2014

half page ad? BUSINESS The business of conservation: good deeds with dirty hands?

By Ashleigh Seow

n the past decade the corporate Environmentalists joined other civil dialogue between business and sector has been partly society organisations as watch dogs of NGOs was born. This process is still Iresponsible for the decline in corporate behaviour. evolving as NGOs evaluate the trade- tiger and other wildlife numbers Business saw the writing on off between the attractions of funding through converting wildlife habitats the wall and sought to associate and partnership against the risks of to oil palm monoculture, resource themselves with environmental and being tainted by unscrupulous “green mining and Latex Timber Clones. social causes. Sustainability became washing”. The problem for NGOs Other activities such as highway a buzz word covering an umbrella is, “what if your partner acts in an construction, timber extraction and of activities from recycling of offi ce unethical manner?” And unethical poorly managed agriculture have paper to emission reductions from behaviour can happen away from the further degraded tiger habitats. factories. Firms engaged with NGOs home country. Accordingly, NGOs MYCAT’s creation in 2003 and local communities and sought must not only scrutinise a prospective coincided with a time of rising to gain “good corporate citizen” sponsor’s track record in Malaysia, global social and environmental credentials in a wide variety of but also elsewhere, which makes due consciousness. Consumers began CSR work such as tree planting on diligence a costly exercise. demanding higher standards of deforested land. This is all the more necessary corporate accountability for the Prior to this, much business now that some fi rms have gone increasingly obvious detrimental involvement in social and beyond partnerships with NGOs social and environmental environmental issues had been driven into ownership of conservation consequences of business activity. by philanthropy; a word of ancient projects, setting goals, funding, Corporate Social Responsibility origin meaning deeds done for the staffi ng and managing projects, such (CSR) was a logical development in benefi t of others with no thought of as Nestlé’s RiLeaf reforestation the debate about the regulation of gain or publicity. of the Kinabatangan riparian business activities, which started Now sponsorship out of corridor. Originally a WWF project, soon after the creation of limited reputational necessity is branded as Nestlé now owns it. The obvious liability joint stock (private) virtue and commodifi ed, an example question is, “if they own the project companies in 1856. Over the past being carbon credits. Business seeks who keeps them honest?” What if 150 years, state and society have a “green” image. Many international another less scrupulous company increasingly realised that profi t- NGOs themselves use branding “buys” the project for the valuable driven organisations must be and reputation enhancing language environmental “goodwill” as governed by legal, fi nancial, social to “encourage fi rms to leverage accountants term it? and environmental norms since they their corporate philanthropic and This trend is likely to continue have been, in the main, demonstrably marketing eff orts to increase their into the next decade, as more fi rms incapable of sustained long term exposure in front of environmentally- feel the pressure to improve their ethical self-governance. The dismal minded consumers”. branding. In principle, the association track record of the armaments, In Malaysia, the oil palm sector of business with environmental resource extraction industries and attracted attention both for its values should be a good thing when fi nancial sector, to name a few, have profi tability and its destructiveness business takes heed of environmental demonstrated this shortcoming. in its threat to forests and wildlife, scorecards as well as balance First governments, then the including tigers. Sustainable sheets. Nevertheless, the NGO-fi rm fi nancial markets and now society standards were developed to mediate relationship will continue to require have sought greater scrutiny, higher between the two outcomes, but were careful management bearing in mind accountability and responsibility slow in implementation. that the ultimate business goals standards from business. A new, and often diffi cult, will seldom be the same as those of

32 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 BUSINESS

Royal Selangor has been regularly sending staff for CAT Walks since 2012 © Royal Selangor/MYCAT conservationists. forms of environmental conservation. Yet conservation needs business There have to be limits and While there are cases elsewhere of involvement as well as public and understanding of what conservation wildlife parks being managed by the government support. Why shouldn’t priorities are, according to Dr. Melvin private sector for limited periods, it fi rms invest in tiger conservation in their Gumal of the Wildlife Conservation would be very unwise if management pursuit of social capital? Ultimately Society. Greening and planting trees of an endangered species like a tiger fi rms are just a group of people, be may be seen as the easiest, most cost was ever outsourced to a profi t-driven they shareholders or staff . Eff ective eff ective way of generating good PR. It organisation with short term or even conservation, one of the most important solves one problem, but is probably not medium term goals. Wildlife projects global challenges today, requires a conservation priority for some NGOs. need clear parameters, defi ned that people need to be aware and Similarly, conservation education and outcomes and objectives, and must participation is the only way to imbue an training of corporate staff as part of be time bound. The challenge for organisation with genuine conservation their HR training is good, but in terms conservationists is to craft shared values. of the eff ort needed for relationship value initiatives or strategies that MYCAT believes in this approach management versus hand-holding and address the needs of business without and in bringing business into tiger the urgency of protecting tigers in the compromising ultimate goals such as conservation by partnering to stop the fi eld – it may not be a priority, unless it is conserving viable wild populations. illegal wildlife trade at source. Some like MYCAT’s Citizen Action for Tigers Another important challenge is the companies have already joined in programme. need for continuing public oversight protecting the tiger and its habitat by Thus, for corporate engagement, and clear accountability. So-called deterring poaching of wildlife in the there is a need to make sure that these “sanctuaries” (another ancient and Sungai Yu Tiger Corridor. And most corporates meet conservation goals abused word) driven by commercial encouragingly, some, such as Malaysian- and not the reverse, i.e. conservation gain are little more than theme parks listed company Royal Selangor, have not organisations meeting the budgetary, and do not assist the wild animals sought any publicity whatsoever, which PR and CSR goals of business. And and often are fronts for “wildlife means that altruistic philanthropy, like while they do meet in common forums, laundering”. the tiger, is not yet extinct. some corporates have their own pre- determined and defi ned goals. “The challenge for conservationists is to craft shared Where does this leave tiger conservation? Dato’ Dr. Dionysius value initiatives or strategies that address the needs Sharma, CEO of WWF-Malaysia, of business without compromising ultimate goals believes corporate management of wildlife is more problematic than other such as conserving viable wild populations.”

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 33 EXTINCTION Extinction of the majestic stripes

By Kae Kawanishi

onservation biologists study short history of modern man (300,000 resources, which includes conservation the human impact on the years), and than average extinction biologists to study the extinction Cextinction process of biological rates in the evolutionary history of process and make scientifi cally sound diversity. Extinction is an evolutionary the life on Earth (3.5 billion years). management recommendations. process that happens to all species and For example, the tiger is only about While the world has lost some 97% over 99.9% of all species that ever lived 1 million years old while the average of the original tiger population in on Earth had gone extinct, mostly prior lifespan of all species is 10 million the past century, Malaysia, since its to the appearance of Homo sapiens. years. In other words, humans are independence in 1957, has lost 90%. Extinction of a species usually involves currently causing mass extinction of The rate of loss is un-proportionate a series of events starting from net loss life on Earth. to the offi cial forest coverage – 38% of individuals in a given population, Malaysia’s biodiversity is of Peninsular Malaysia – because net loss of distinctive sub-populations especially at risk of rapid decline many forests are becoming empty of and subspecies, and fi nally loss of due to its initial richness inherent to commercially valuable animals such all individuals in the entire range of tropical rainforests, many endemic as tigers. the species. The extinction rate of taxa, geographical insularity, high Like house cats, tigers are prolifi c biodiversity world-wide is faster in our deforestation rate, unsustainable animals that can breed and reproduce lifetime than at any other time in the development and lack of conservation easily. Biologically, it is possible for

34 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 EXTINCTION the population of 300 Malayan While political commitment to “Biodiversity is essential for tigers to bounce back to 500 and nature conservation will remain weak eventually to 1,000. Malaysia has and the state Forestry Departments human survival. Saving tigers enough forests to support up to 1,500 will not protect biodiversity beyond from imminent extinction tigers. Socially, however, it will take the monetary value of timber, I miracles to recover the 90% loss. One predict that MYCAT and the Wildlife requires healthy forests, such miracle would be the integration Department will be galvanising more sustainable development, of biodiversity conservation into resources to protect and monitor the State Governments’ decision- tigers in these three areas. If we fail strong governance, and making processes regarding resource to do this in the next decade, then educated and caring people extraction, especially forestry. the loss of the Malayan tiger will be irreversible in the foreseeable future. who are ready to take action. PREDICTION A landscape approach to Losing tigers signifies the lack I predict that in the next decade, biodiversity conservation is a popular extinction rates will accelerate world- concept and is viable in some wealthy of these conditions.” wide and the health of Earth will further countries. This was what local deteriorate. In Malaysia, this process will conservationists envisioned in 2006 not be documented scientifi cally except when we met to develop a national forested landscape at the risk of losing for a very few high profi le species, but strategy to double the tiger numbers everything. We need to focus on the the eff ects of degradation, destruction in Malaysia by 2020. Among the tiger priority areas. We need to have armed and fragmentation of the forests will be range countries, Malaysia is a rich enforcement and military personnel visible and felt in the lives of Malaysians. country, but its high GDP growth protecting the forest interiors, and The tiger worldwide will not be extinct is irrelevant to human capital and fl ood the edges and easily accessible yet. Population recovery will continue resources for biodiversity protection. areas with citizen conservationists to occur in some pockets of forest that Although Malaysia has relatively and tourists. receive long-term commitment and good conservation policies and laws, Wildlife can live with tourists, but adequate resources like those in India, the enabling conditions for eff ective not with poachers. We should know Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Endau- implementation are lagging behind. about every individual tiger that lives Rompin in Malaysia. In the next decade, the Malaysian in these priority areas, and protect While biodiversity in general public and the government will not be and monitor them diligently. will decline due to the loss of natural ready for the radical changes required Tiger conservation needs to forests in Malaysia, commercially for eff ective biodiversity conservation. be adequately fi nanced so that valuable species like the tiger will be I cannot even objectively foresee conservation professionals can do specifi cally targeted. More poachers these changes coming in my lifetime. conservation instead of raising funds from Indochina will fl ood Malaysia’s The progress will be gradual, yet full-time. fragmented forests, free for all, extinction will come much more If we can protect these three and compete with local poachers. rapidly. source populations in the next decade, Only 15% of the tiger habitats are in I will consider our eff ort a success. protected areas, which means most NEEDS When the enabling conditions for tigers in the rest of the forests will We have learned that conservation eff ective biodiversity conservation be gone. It will become too costly resources are pitifully small, and using a landscape approach are to monitor and protect the few that time is running out for the tiger. The prevalent in the distant future, tigers remain, even if someone would want full-time manpower to adequately can re-colonise the rest of the forested to do so. In essence, tigers will survive protect Taman Negara, for example, landscape. only in the three isolated priority is currently less than 10% of what is Biodiversity is essential for areas (Belum-Temengor, Taman needed. We should not spread the human survival. Saving tigers from Negara and Endau-Rompin). resources so thinly over the vast imminent extinction requires healthy forests, sustainable development, strong governance, and educated and “Among the tiger range countries, Malaysia caring people who are ready to take is a rich country, but its high GDP growth is action. Losing tigers signifi es the lack of these conditions. If Malaysia fails irrelevant to human capital and resources for to safeguard the future of its tigers biodiversity protection. Although Malaysia by failing to preserve them in the protected areas over the next decade, has relatively good conservation policies and life in this country will not be safe laws, the enabling conditions for effective for me and for my child. Every tiger deserved to be saved, but Malaysians implementation are lagging behind.” will not have deserved my dedication.

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 35 Game that teaches children about the web of life © Farid Ibrahim/MYCAT

MENTALITY Roaring for tigers, but is anyone listening? Changing and enduring attitudes towards tigers and tiger conservation.

By Elizabeth John, Suzalinur Manja Bidin and Or Oi Ching

n August 2002, the then Kelantan tigers at the time. apparent in the total absence of this question Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Of course, there were always people to nowadays: “Eh, Malaysia got tigers ah?!” INik Mat ordered a large-scale, army-led whom tigers mattered. They were the ones It was there in the outcry that followed a operation to wipe out all tigers in the state. whose voices of reason – don’t kill every single measly fi ne imposed on a trader in Tumpat, “Malaysia already has far too many tiger just because one killed – won the day and Kelantan, caught with a quartered tiger in tigers...they are better off dead,” he told the put paid to the mass extermination plan. his freezer in 2005, and in the public and press following several fatal tiger attacks on And over the years this group has grown, media calls for tougher enforcement after the rubber tappers in the Jeli district. and is largely aware that Malaysia has its very tiger cub Nicky was rescued from a Pahang Dangerous, unnecessary or just plain own tiger which is threatened and in need of restaurant the same year. irrelevant, seemed to be a common view of protection. The increased level of awareness is The public uproar against the

36 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 MENTALITY

Chief Minister’s plan for a tiger park in 2009 profi t from them and just as irrelevant to the it gets worse. even before conservation groups raised a political czars as they were back in August 2002. Hunting is just a part of daily life, say many stink; the angry picket against the abuse of And in classrooms of forest-fringe within communities crucial to our eff orts to tigers for photography at a zoo in Melaka in communities, the disregard is painfully clear. save tigers. Wildlife is a bounty to be enjoyed. 2010; some 56,000 public signatures that During our outreach programmes at schools, Cultural belief in the effi cacy of tiger parts provided the push for a critical overhaul volunteers casually asked ten to twelve-year- in healing and boosting performance in the of Malaysia’s wildlife laws; the public rant olds if they had ever seen a snare. The vast bedroom still holds sway in this day and age. against government inaction in the wake of majority raised their hands to show they had Politely accepting the brochures that list UK Channel 4’s video of brazen Malaysian without any hesitation. hefty fi nes for poaching, the locals show little poachers posing with a dead tiger somewhere They could tell volunteers how traps were emotion when the conversation turns to falling in northern Peninsular Malaysia – all tiger numbers. A tiger has little meaning these say that people care and do make “People may be increasingly in their lives; a dead tiger even less. The their voices heard for tigers. loss of tigers simply does not possess the So, we’re all good then? aware today, but more than a few immediacy of a water cut or a choking No, not so fast. still want tiger parts.” haze. Malaysia’s biggest seizure of tiger On occasion, residents show disdain parts on record took place in Kedah towards the visiting conservationists just two years ago. A mind-blowing 22 bags of made, what animals were caught and even who have the temerity to tell the host how to skeletal remains of tigers and eight whole skins the culinary delights created out of some of behave in his own house. found in the possession of a single trader. Malaysia’s most protected species. Even among the rural and urban folk who People may be increasingly aware today, Tigers and everything else in the wild understand the tigers’ plight, the mentality but more than a few still want tiger parts. world are still thought of very much as a is often one of resignation or skepticism. At Researchers and rangers on patrol commodity – food, medicine, a product to workshops to promote the use of the Wildlife still have no trouble fi nding snares in trade. These children live so close to the Crime Hotline, participants often question if protected areas. Poaching has devastated the majestic beast yet do not relate to it in any it’s really their place or within their power to population of tiger prey, especially the sambar conservation terms. propel change. deer. A latticework of highways and other When our exhibition booths in some of Catching poachers and smugglers, development across protected areas brings these communities showcase wildlife parts protecting the tiger…isn’t that the poachers closer to tigers, and tigers into and products confi scated by authorities, government’s job? What are they doing? greater confl ict with people. people often ask if the exhibits are for sale! Of those who do save the hotline number Still dangerous, necessary only to those who And just as you start thinking that we’re sunk, for later use, some can be heard remarking

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 37 MENTALITY

willingness to seek solutions beyond their area of expertise or when conservation tactics alone are not enough. If it is apparent that public attitude towards the poaching and traffi cking of tigers is informed by economics, religion, land ownership or corruption and disregard for the law, then new measures, new collaborations and a completely diff erent set of skills may be called for. Really talking to communities and working with them, providing leadership where there is none and stepping aside where Orang Asli children and adults listening to a there are local champions, demonstrating talk on tigers © Hamsiah Abu Bakar/MYCAT the value to humans of protecting a space and a species – all these will help change that they don’t really believe their reports will moving them to care, and then to act. public perception that the conservationist is result in action. Not a surprise considering Ideally this should begin with a clearer all about the green agenda, while people are few tiger poachers and smugglers actually understanding of what goes through the secondary to wildlife. get caught and slapped with a penalty of any mind of the average Malaysian when the talk For people to see, understand and believe worth; and the miserable publicity there is on turns to tigers. Right now, it’s a jumble of that saving tigers is urgent and necessary, the few occasions they are. assumptions, intuition and limited insight that conservation NGOs must convince opinion Last year, some 1,000 people signed up as is sometimes a hit, but more often a miss. leaders and decision makers who have a say in volunteers for MYCAT after the group’s run to Organisations attempting to reduce policy, legislation, and fi nancing. raise awareness on the tiger’s dire situation. demand for threatened wildlife, try and avoid For them, we must shape and sustain These new volunteers and the thousand this pitfall by carrying out detailed studies a political case for strong conservation more who’ve helped over the years are on why society consumes illegal wildlife protection. It will take courage and testament to changing minds, or to the fact that goods like tiger parts, rhino horn or ivory. persistence, but success would be invaluable those who believe in saving tigers are willing to The knowledge gives communicators and – it would mean tigers have a place on the put a little sweat into making that happen. campaigners a much better chance of getting national agenda. But there is little hope for a future with wild to the heart of the problem. Conservation, let alone saving tigers, rarely tigers if we fail to overcome the current poaching Such work in China has identifi ed features in national debate and discussion pressure and habitat loss. And as tigers become a corporate gift-giving, health and investment on how the country’s wealth should be spent, rare sight in the forest, it will be even harder for as key reasons for this behaviour. While in its resources managed or the future planned. people to feel connected to them and maintain , it has shown that buyers and users It has to be visible, alongside such issues as interest in conserving wild tigers. of rhino horn form a powerful social network health, education, security and livelihoods The responsibility of saving wild tigers consisting of important individuals with whom before anyone will give two-hoots about tigers. has always been shouldered by a very few it is crucial to maintain good relationships. Moving forward, we cannot aff ord to in society who truly care for wildlife. For the Studies on demand for other wildlife forget the many who view tigers and tiger longest time, this has largely been considered have also shown how income, culture, beliefs, conservation positively. Neither can we the duty of green NGOs and this state of aff airs misinformation, the need for prestige or ignore the people for whom tigers are little is likely to remain unchanged in the foreseeable luxury, in combination or separately, drive more than animals in a zoo or symbols on future. illegal trade and consumption of wildlife. offi cial crests. So after years of exhibitions, talks, walks, Figuring out why Malaysians, who are Those who care need to know exactly interviews, petitions and riding the social now better informed about the tiger problem, what they can do to help. The dire situation media bandwagon for tigers, the time has don’t often act on that knowledge will be the Malayan tiger faces can often leave the come to try something new and to make the fundamental to saving the country’s tigers. public feeling helpless and apathetic. They messages much more relevant to the public – Equally critical will be conservationists’ need a list of concrete actions and must be able to see those actions bear results. For the rest, and the future generations “Those who care need to know exactly what they that have yet to hear about the vanishing can do to help. The dire situation the Malayan tiger Malayan tiger, thoughtful and targeted engagement must continue. faces can often leave the public feeling helpless and There are but 250-340 wild tigers left. apathetic. They need a list of concrete actions and Reach out, ask, cajole, listen, speak up, demand, persuade, study, prove, win-over. must be able to see those actions bear results.” There’s precious little time.

38 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 Take Action! The future will depend on our choices and deliberate actions. Will you be a member of the species that dominates Earth and destroys its natural systems and the web of life? Or, will you follow your conscience and act with compassion?

• Report suspected poaching • Support conservation or trading activities involving campaigns initiated by tigers, tiger prey and other MYCAT and partner NGOs endangered animals to the MYCAT Wildlife Crime • Raise awareness and funds Hotline at 019.356.4194, for tiger conservation at your [email protected] school or company, and donate or www.facebook.com/ to conservation organisations wildlifecrimehotline • Learn about tigers and tiger • Save tigers from poachers’ prey from reliable sources like snares by volunteering for the MYCAT website (www. Citizen Action for Tigers malayantiger.net) and share (CAT). Sign up at www. with your friends and family citizenactionfortigers.my • Do not use traditional • Sign up as a MYCAT volunteer medicines which contain at www.malayantiger.net parts of tigers and other endangered species • Secure forests for tigers and our own future by finding • Do not eat the meat of endangered out more about the Central species, particularly tigers and Forest Spine Master Plan and tiger prey (wild deer and ) calling upon your elected state • Do not purchase decorative representative to uphold the items or fashion made from plan in your state parts of endangered species • Voice your opinion to the • Do your research before visiting press and national leaders on zoos or theme parks with indiscriminate development, wildlife. Stay away from those deforestation and poaching involved in illegal acquisition or use of wildlife

MYCAT in Numbers (2003-2013)

300wild tigers remain in Malaysia 1 405 national in Malaysia’s forests in Malaysia’s

reports be supported can tigers strategy on 1,082 1,500 volunteers empowered received saving tigers to spread messages by Wildlife and tools to save tigers Crime CAT Walkers Hotline; protected Sungai 459 Yu Tiger Corridor 253 actions taken covered by

instituted by the on sambar and barking and barking moratorium moratorium deer hunting hunting deer 665 km CAT Walkers

6-year authorities

Malaysians reached, face-to-face, in 134 roadshows and school 40,645 outreach programmes 56,062 enforcement staff supporters worldwide trained to better called for a better wildlife patrol Taman Negara law in Malaysia 68 runners signed up for poachers’ traps the Wild Tiger Run deactivated by CAT Walkers 2,500 108

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 41 Joel Chua Lim Shu Ting Johanan Micaiah Supramaniam Lim Sing Hua Johannes Eich Lim Teck Wyn John Chanb Lim Tze Tshen John Graham Robertson Lim Wee Siong Thank You! John Steed Lim Wei Jin Jonathan Goh Teik Ean Lim Zh Biao Many thanks to MYCAT volunteers who contribute time and Jordyn Lee Chian Hoey Linda Khoo energy, as well as specifi c expertise, to make our programmes Joyce Lim Shiu Hui Lindy Siu Wei Lin Juanita Johari Ling Toh Hao a success. MYCAT volunteers between 2003 and 2013* are: Julia Jaafar Lisana Saleem Julia Lo Fui San Liwina Thamby Pillai Junaidi Omar Loh Chan Wai Abbey Thangiah Davadason Peter Chan Sheow Chen Gerd Neumann Kaamini Planisamy Loh Pei Vent Abd Munir Mohamad Abd Khalil Chan Shuk Yee Gilles Faussat Kaartigaiyan Gunasegran Loh Pui Yen Abdul Halim Ahmad Mazlan Chan Wai Kin Goh Chiew Yee Kamilla Adam Cheah Loh Yook Fun Abdul Rahman Aziz Chanelle Tan Wan Sin Goh Wai Kuan Kanagalingam K. Kulasingamb Lok Jing Tian Abdul Rahman Mustapa Chang Hon Kit Gopalasamy Reuben Clements Kavitha Jayaseelan Long Seh Ling Abdul Razak Sanusi Chang Yen Lynn Gurnam Singh Dhaliwal Kazel Teoh Kuan Min Loo Sheng Nee Abdussalaam Kamaluddin Charlie Frew Ha Siaw Harn Kee Wei Ken Loretta Ann Shepherd Adam Stone Cheong Peg Ling Habib Fadli Lutas Asril Keisha Shekeena Ravichandran Lorraine Lim Caishan Adibah Munirah Mazlan Cheong Shu-Mei Habibah Yusof Kenny Voon Zhen Yi Low Carmen Adisti Zolkopli Chew Fui San Hafeaza Harun Keong Lye Choon Low Kok Chang Adli Hadi Sabaruddin Chew Lee Yuin Hafi za Razali Kerry Stansfi eld Low Yan Ling Afi fah Zainal Abidin Chia Wai Meng Hafi zah Hanif Kevin Lim Keong Chye Lucas Lim Yoon Fatt Afi qah Khalid Chiew Lin May Hairunnisa Zahirah Abdul Raqib Lim Kevin Ngu Heng Xu Lucie Nicole Baker Ahmad Arif Farid Ibrahim Chin Joon Ming Hajarrnotul Atiqah Nurain Mohd Nor Khaireny Mohamed Khalid Luqman Nulhakim Rusli Ahmad Azharuddin Osman Chin Pik Wun Hamdan Alias Khairil Amir Shuib Mabel Loo Lih Chyun Ahmad Azri Zulkifl i Chin Yen Wah Hamed Nasrollahi Khairina Abdul Halim Mafuyu Negishi Ahmad Deedat Abdul Hamid Chong Ai Lyn Hamidah Yussof Khairul Annuar Adzman Omar Mah Wai Loon Ahmad Faizal Rahim Chong Ban Lee Hamsiah Abu Bakar Khairul Fara Basir Maimunah Mohd Noor Ahmad Nazrul Hisham Mohamad Nasir Chong Pooi Yee Hamzah Mohd Ali Khairunaim Jamaludin Maisara Aina Mohamed Asri Ahmad Safuan Md Yusoff Chong Shu-Yi Han Shuet Ling Khairy Idzuan Ahmad Kamal Maisarah Izzah Tajaruddin Ahmad Siddiq Mohd Adnan Chong Yuan Yoon Haniza Jais Khok Li Jun Maizatun Arrazi Aiidir Putera Ab Raman Choo Shuet Yee Hanni Hazirah Binti Hisham KieyabArshia Mak Jun Kiat Aiman Safwan Ahmad Suffi an Choong Wai Sum Hanusha Nair Ko Wern Yen Mak See Mun Aimi Amalina Abdullah Chow Kar Shin Harkeerat Sandhu Koh Hock Guan Malcolm Leon D’Silva Aimy Rashidah Zakaria Chris Ong Jenn Yi Haroman Musa Kok Joey Marcus Tan Yong Aun Aisath Shamrath Waheed Christophe Chevrieux Harriet Florence Webb Kong Zhao Ning Maria Che Makhter Alan Yu Chu Meiyi Harrison Ooi Zhi Jun Koo Pei Yee Mariani Ismail Aleka Erica Elizabeth Fernandez Chua Vi Vian Harvinpreet Kaur Krissie Bea Sta Maria Mark Ng Alexander M Jack Chua Wan Chyng Hasmaniah Saidina Abas Kshitij Suhag Marlina Yusoff Alice Gemma Monk Chua Wei Jie Helen Alexandra Forsyth Kuo Zi Chong Mary Liew Cheng Huan Alice Wong Sow Moy Claire Beastall Helen Johnny Kwan Poh Peng Mary Soh Chooi Bing Amanda Lam Su Lin Clarence Anslem Henry Chan Lai Tatt Sheng Mazrul Mahadzir Amanda Sonia Nathan Clarence Chua Heon Sui Peng Lai Yin Yee Md Shahri Md Alwi Aminath Afra Mukhtar Cunayah Carwinah Hezry Haizad Laleindra Kumaran Megan Lim Anara Akhmetzhanova Daniel Quilter Hia Pei Gyn Lam Jen Sen Mellissa Robat Ang Ah Leck Darrin Wu Wen Long Hilda Norsyikin Razali Lara Ariffi n Melville Chin Nieh Jia Jeong Angelicia Anthony Thane David Chin Hoong Weng Ho Sook Mun Latifah Ibrahim Mengran Li Aniszah Abdul Sabhee David Lim Chan Foo Ho Yoke Wan Lau Chak Onn Mervyn Guan Yin Hui Ann Marie Sidhu David Trees Hoh Choong Weng Lau Ching Fong Michael John Hill Anna Ransch Dean Bangs Huzaifah Mohd Zainudin Lau Kai Pin Michael Khor Lean Hong Apau Mudzaffar Harun Denise Cheah Su Lin Hwang Shiang Lin Laura Benedict Michelle Chua Khit Yeng Arhwin Kalai Chelvan Dewi Juita Ian Chew Seng Yian Laura Ribero Michelle Fong Wai Cheng Arina Mahirah Zulkifl i Dewi Mulyani Mohd Ilham Ibtisam Sarhanaa Shamsudin Lavaniadevi Gopalakrishnan Michelle Yee Asha Kaur Dilina Kamaruddin Ida Anura Elias Laviniya Naidu Mikkel Bering Ashleigh Kivilaakso Seow Dinaesh Kumar Sivananthan Ilyas Sapian Law Lee Huie Mimi Aminah Azizan Ashwin Singh Pentlia Donovan Louis Intan Farhana Mat Saad Layne Winnings Mohamad Afi f Mohd Shahar Asiyah Wahidah Razali Dylan Jefri Ong Ira Irnieyati Zainol Alam Lee Bee Kin Mohamad Farhan Mohamad Sobri Aysha Clare Whittaker Eileen Chiang Ai Lin Irene Zambon Lee Caulfi eld-Marsh Mohamad Nazrin Ameer Ali Azari Kamal Elena Wong Wei Wen Irwan Buana Ismail Lee Ching Nee Mohamad Nizam Azariah Ariffi n Elizabeth Lisa John Ishammudin Murni Lee Ching Yew Mohamed Adam Mohamed Azlan Azeela Mohd Ali Elli Noor Syafi kah Azmi Iskandar Fadzillah Lee Jia Chern MohamedbYusof Mohd Hussain Azfar Mahdi Abdul Manaf Ema Dayana Safi an Ivan Tacey Lee Mei Foong Mohammad Aslam Che Mat Aziezan Jaafar Eng Chee Jiang Izzasyahirah Hazwani Awang Yassin Lee Miao Lu Mohammad Noor Hakimi Hatimurrudzi Azira Azreen Abdul Aziz Eng Mei Ngoh Jake Leong Chee Onn Lee Oon Teik Mohammad Ridhwan Md Zan Azisha Aziz Aziz Ahmad Eng Sin Yin Jamaluddin Othman Lee Shin Hui Mohd Aiman Zulkifl y Azlan Mohamed Eric Chan Jan H Stuivenberg Lee Shing Peng Mohd Akmal Abd Rahim Azwan Roslan Eugene Lee Thean Jane Phang Jo Ee Lee Siew Mei Mohd Alif Adenan Azwari Zainal Eunice Lum Sow Chan Jas Khairulshazwan Jas Saripudeen Lee Wei Nie Mohd Aminulrashid Ahmad Baduriah Mohd Ariffi n Eunice Wong Zi Yi Jasmine Steed Lee Zhiang Ho Mohd Arif Zaini Barry-Dean Dawson Evelyn Hii Shin Yee Jason Boehle Leona Liman Mohd Asri Ibrahim Bashtiah Nahrul Khair Fahrol Liza Jaafar Jason Wee Chee Siangb Leong Shen-Li Mohd Dhirar Azwar Mohd Nadzri Beatrix Sim Wuan Hung Fara Atika Mat Isab Jason Yong Jun Keat Leong Suet Yin Mohd Fairoz Abd Rahman Belinda James Xavier Farah Ahmad Damanhuri Jeanne Lim Chee Jing Leroy Yeow Mohd Fairul Ilham Che Amran Ben Stone Farah Hanis Juhari Jeannie Chan Leslie Fernandez Mohd Faizal Bakar Ali Benjamin Derek James Farahen Abd Hadi Jennifer Cantlay Liaw Wei Ling Mohd Faizul Ali Benjamin Tan Wei Liang Farahida Mazlan Jennifer Neoh Tan Su Heng Liew Ching Miao Mohd Faizul Azhar Mohd Ariffi n Bernadette Chin Farid Ibrahim Jennifer Ubung Nawan Liew En Ji Mohd Farhan Hanif Reduan Biman Bardhan Amal Bardhan Faridah Mat Ali Jenny Tanedo Liew Mai Fung Mohd Fauzi Ahmad Bobby Soon Fariz Abdul Aziz Jeremy Phang Pok Shan Lim Aun Tiah Mohd Hafi z Abdul Ghani Booi Carlyn Farlida Syafi naz Mohamad Jeremy Thing Zhen Wei Lim Chee Chung Mohd Hairul Nizam Termuger Brian Koh Weng Chuan Fazely Jaafar Jerome Tan Lim Chia Ann Mohd Hosni Shamsir Md Nasir Cahaya Amalina Zaini Felicia Tan Cui Xian Jesmail Kaur Lim Eilwyn Mohd Huzaai Abd Rahman Calvin Lai Kin Hon Firdaus Mohd Raf Jess Chey Poh Wah Lim Kae Sen Mohd Iskandar Shah Amran Camellia Chim Yee Peng Firdausia Hj Omar Jesse Lee Yin Lay Lim Kaiyang Mohd Izwan Mat Ismail Cameron Kennedy Fred Koontz Jessica Liew Sue Ann Lim Li Shan Mohd Khairool Afi q Zulkefl i Carol Ho Freda Koh Jia Ti Jeyamani Kuppusamy Lim Loong Shueng Mohd Khairul Fizreey Caroline Yap Gabriela Riskova Jill Khoo Siao Hooi Lim Mei Yi Mohd Khairul Zakirin Mahadi Carolyn Marsh Gan Yuh-Linb Jim Stone Lim Puay Aun Mohd Latiff Mohd Yusoff Chan Beng Beng Gerald Koh Jia Haur Joanna Melissa Moss Lim Seik Ni Mohd Najmi Imran Razak Chan Chin Wei Gerard Christopher Noel Joanne Tong Lim Shin Yee Mohd Nizam Mohd Sani

42 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 Mohd Nordin Abdul Rahim Noor Azlia Fatin Fauzi Peter John Mccutcheon Siti Mariah Abd Wahid Tracy Chan Shook Kuan Mohd Razali Mohd Isa Noor Aznizi Azimat Petr Judl Siti Munirah Juri Tulip Azalea Mohd Razif Shahredza Aspawi Noor Azura Ahmad Petra Mester Siti Muniza Juri Ummi Junid Mohd Riduwan Mohd Zanin Noor Hafi zah Mohd Saad Piong Ai Li Siti Noorzeha Ramli Vanine Najaryan Mohd Rizal Umar Noor Haisah Razali Priya S Bani Siti Nor Asmira Kamaruzaman Venessa Venda Vitales Mohd Rosalin Awang Nor Anisah Yusofb Putra Kamarulzaman Siti Noriah Muhd Yuna Veronica Kim Mohd Shah Rizuan Kamaruddin Nor Emily Mohd Fadhley Putra Mohd Nor Ridzwan Azhar Siti Nur Fateha Raduan Vincent Ong Weng Soon Mohd Sharullizam Ramli Nor Farazillah Idris R. Gobinath Rajasundram Siti Nur Jennah Mat Juri Vishalini Janasekker Mohd Sofi an Hamid Nor Farhana Torot Rabiatul Adawiah Abdullah Siti Nur Sarah Salleh Vivek Venkataraman Mohd Syafi ee Effendi Nor Hajaratul Hidayah Saari Rafi dah Abd Razak Siti Rahmah Asri Vivian Choy Mohd Syamim Yusof Nor Haslina Mohd Noor Ramkumar Adinaranan Siti Safi ah Mohammad Vivian Teoh Cheng Inn Mohd Zarith Zainal Nor Laili Abdul Rachman Ramli Samat Siti Sakinah Karim Vivien Ng Xiao Jin Monika Benova Nor Nabila Long Raphaela Potter Siti Shakinna Chu Mohd Rizal Chu Vivienne Joon Yee Ling Muhaidatul Ismah Ismail Nor Safi qah Haris Raymond Lim Hong Kee Sofi a Teh Eulynn Voon Mufeng Muhamad Akmal Noor Ezat Nor Shici Muharame Yahya Razak Osman Sonia Lim Ern Yi Wah Jo Vie Muhamad Faiz Ishak Nor Syuhada Zulkepli Razaki Sham Zakaria Soo Ling Wan Asma Afendy Wan Abd Talib Muhamad Farhan Abdul Rahman Norafi za Khalid Raziznurirwan Abdul Rahman Sreeni Varad Wan Kamarul Ariffi n Wan Ibrahim Muhamad Hafi zuddin Noraisah Majri Regina Tan Jia Xin Stacey Lim Nong Xin Wan Marzuri Wan Abdullah Muhamad Zulfadli Zulkifl i Norazita Hj Abdul Kudus Renata Purnomo Stefan Jorg Sigl Wan Nor Azlina Wan Muhamad Rashad Muhammad Adib Bahari Norazlin Mohd Samsuri Renee Yee Oi Yen Stefan Pertz Wan Norwisni Wan Shamsudin Muhammad Akmal Mohd Jais Nordanial Rohimi Reta Lee Choi Wei Stephanie Lavania Petrus Wan Nurizan Wan Salleh Muhammad Ali Mustaffa Norelia Zainuddin Richard Tan Hee Hui Subashini Sivalingam Wan The Noor Muhammad Arafat Zainudin Norhana Imelda Ismail Rick Gregory Subasini Anamulai Wanshahdhani Wan Mohd Khirudin Muhammad Asri Isah Norhidayah Hamdan Rosanna Niccoli Subasni Munusamy We Wei Shin Muhammad Faris Md Sukri Norisal Nasai Rosdah Abd Hassan Chin Suchismita Das Wennie Seumin Muhammad Fawwaz Haikal Fauzi Normunirah Mohamed @ Chin Siaw Fui Suhaila Musahudin Wong Ee Lynn Muhammad Hafi z Wahid Norshahila Mohamad Razak Roshen S Nirmal Suhana Abdullah Shukor Wong Horr Wai Muhammad Hairul Hidayat Hamdan Norsiah Rabanis Rosie Hand Suniljeet Singh Sandhu Wong Kel Vinn Muhammad Iqbal Ishak Nur Ain Md Ali Roslina Jaffa Sidek Sunjay Nair Wong Kok Nai Muhammad Jefry Mat Juri Nur Aina Khalid Rosmin Shazreen Kamarolzaman Suriati Yazid Wong Kok Seng Muhammad Naja Jamaludin Nur Ainatul Asillah Jamil Rosnani Said Surin Suksuwan Wong Li Teng Muhammad Nazreen Chahril Nur Aizat Haziq Mohd Zulkafl i Rosni Abdullah Suzalinur Manja Bidin Wong Meng Li Muhammad Nazri Mohd Nasir Nur Allia Mohd Subhi Roszalina Mohd Kasby Syahaneem Othman Wong Pooi San Muhammad Saiful Zulkefl e Nur Asma Mohamad Munshi Ruzaini Hanum Syariena Saharuddin Wong Pui May Muhammad Shahmi Mohamad Nasir Nur Atiqah Abd Rashid Ruzanna Rosfa Syazreen Sara Sukor Wong Pui Yi Muhammad Shazmir Roslan Nur Atiqah Mohamad Radhi S Darmaraja Syed Basyiruddin Syed Mohamad Wong See Kee Muhammad Syafi q Roslan Nur Atiqah Tahir S MahendranbVSS Maniam b Fadzillah Wong Shi Jun Muhammad Ta’Ayun Amin Manjaya Nur Fadilah Ab Rahim Sa’Adah Sazali Tajinder Sohanpal Wong Shiau Thung Muhammad Ukasyah Mohd Azizan Nur Hazirah Shamsudin Sahrom Abdul Jalil Tam Carmein Wong Si Peng Muhammad Yusuf Izzudin Nur Hidayah Abdun Nasir Saliyaty Dora Md Ramly Tam Kok Heng Wong Wai Ying Muhammad Yusuf Mohd Noordin Nur Hidayah Abu Kasim Sally Siew Siok Peik Tan Ann Gie Wong Yin Fatt Muhammad Zhafi r Johari Nur Izayu Zainudin Sam Jie Wen Tan Bin Bin Wong Ze Hoeng Muhd Naqiyuddin Azmi Nur Jasmina Abdul Gafor Samsul Nizam Karia Tan Boon Pou Woon Ning Xian Muhd Shahzan Sha Abdullah Nur Suhaida Mohd Sujakb Samuel Tan Costa Tan Cc Wu Wen Long Muhd Zahiddin Ahmad Nur Syahirah Binti Zainuddin Sarah Illiyyeen Ahmad Fuaad Tan Chen Kang Wuwei Neng Muhd Zharrieq Haizzad Zainolb Nur Syamimi Abdul Hamid Sareena Khairuddin Tan Cheng Yam Xavier Yeoh Ping Chien Munirah Zaini Nur Syarina Azhar Mazlan Azhar Satria Putra Kamarulzaman Tan Chin Chin Yang Chien Yu Musfi rah Mohd Asri Nurainadawiah Md Ataras Saw Khay Chong Tan Choong Hou Yang Sok Theng Nabila Azuar Nuratikah Lokman Seah Yit Ting Tan Chuan Jiunn Yap Han Yang Nadia Aulia Arifi n Nurhaniza Jalaludin Sebastian Sutar Tan Eng Chong Yasmin Suraiya Mohd Yusrib Nadia Natasha Nurhidayah Shamsuddin Sebastian Tay Tan Hui Xin Yee Jia Yin Nadiah Rosli Nurliyana Muhamad Syukri See Tho Tuck Kong Tan Jie Ru Yee Set Li Nadzirah Abdul Ghani Nurul Aainaa Mohtar Seri Banu Ramli Tan Jooi Chong Yee Woon Sim Nai Sheue Fen Nurul Adibah Ahmad Ladin Shagul Firdauz Abu Yazid Tan Kah Qee Yen Khang Ling Najat Nasiha Hairul Anuar Nurul Ain Mohd Hidir Shahril Azhar Surat Tan Kai Ren Yeo Keat Eu Najmi Naim Zaki Nurul Atifah Md Haron Shalini Jayanandan Tan Khim Seong Yeo Shu Yuon Najua Ismail Nurul Atikah Mohd Nazir Shamus Jr Teo Tan Lea Meng Yeoh Boon Nie Nasir Ahmed Nurul Bariyah Sharif Abdul Rahman Sharif Hasan Tan Leng Seng Yeoh Chooi Keen Natalie Key Nurul Farehan Abd Razak Sharifah Naomi Nur Iman Syed Yazrin Tan Pin Pin Yeoh Wei Zhe Natasha Ann Culus Nurul Fatihah Azhar Shariff Mohamad Tan Poh Ling Yeong Chen Shin Natasya Ali Nurul Izzaty Yunus Sharina Yahya Tan Su Hui Yeow Shiau Ling Navinah Ravindaran Nurul Nadia Matdiah Sharma Saravanan Pillai Tan Su Yin Yom Nurul Akma Nazarull Ariffi n Mohamad Nurul Syafi qah Zulkifl i Sharon Joseph Selvanathan Tan Tai Yin Yong Hua Ming Nazri Ahmad Nusaybah Mohd Asri Sharon Ong Su Min Tan Vuan Zhin Yong Kang Wei Neel Chakravarty Olivia Peter Sheila Wong Tan Yan Qian Yong Suit-B Neoh Beng Hsuen Olivia Vun Kai Lib Shenaaz Khan Tan Yee Lim Yu Cai Hong Ng Char Ree Olivier Caillabet Shera Syazwani Norazhwan Kanaseelan Tan Ying Shing Yusnita Binti Yusof Ng Chun Kit Ong Lisin Sheradany Azureen Mohd Johannesh Tang Fook Leong Yusuf Abdali Ebrahim Saleh Aheed Ng Eng Hooi Ong Pei Gee Shim Bih Jiuann Tang Kah Weng Zailifah Idris Ng Kim Chu Ong Yi Wei Shireen Sudhakaran Tarani Palani Zainal Abidin Abdul Aziz Ng Kok Meng Ooi Mann Yiin Shireen Zaki Tean Tze Lim Zaleha Abdollah Ng Liang Hao Ooi Teik Thong Shirley Tan Tee Kim Tsew Zalina A Karim Ng Nicole Ooi Tiat Yen Shivani Chakravarty Tee Thye Lim Zamilah Mohamad Ng Shwu Huey Or Oi Ching Shum Chee Hong Teo Ying Pei Zarul Asyraf Zulkifl i Ng Tong San Orange Nong Sheau Cherng Shum Pei San Terrance Navinden Zoe Lynn Chitty Ng Yi Qin Orked Ahmad Siam Weng Loong Tey Jie Hwi Zue Nisha Farhannah Zu Hazren Ngai Chee Ban Pakeeyaraj Nagalingam Sim Ka Yean Thai Kar Mun Zul Azlee Zakaria Ngoe Siet Hua Pang Kok King Sim Sau Chee Thanalakhshumy Ramasamy Nick Khoo Thean Chun Pasupathy Jayaraj Simon Chen Thaneesha Rao Nicolas Avendano Pradenas Patricia Albert Siraj Kumar KT Krishnasamy Thee Guan Hong Nik Haslinda Husain Paul Aron Rajmond Raj Siti Aminah Jaafar Theeban Paramasivam Nik Hasnah Syara N Anuar Paul Michael Colclough Siti Aqilah Mardhiah Abdul Halim Thivaagar Thiruchelvan Nina Cheong Paul Rummy @ Henry Siti Fazlina Moh Pauzi Thomas Kraft Nirakirana Ahmad Pauline Verheij Siti Hawa Abd Wahid Thye Munchun Niren Mukherjee Someer Mukherjee Pavithar Kaur Siti Ibadillah Ismail Timothy Teoh Noor Aida Abdullah Pavithran Damadram Siti Irma Ithnin Toh Ming Xuan Noor Aisha Md Yusoff Pearl Hu Mei Choo Siti Jamiah Mohamad Yob Toh Ruoh Yuan Noor Amie Ezian Fauzi Pedram Hatami Abdullah Siti Maisarah Mattap Tong Yee Jiun

* If you have previously volunteered with MYCAT but are not listed, please contact us at [email protected]. Any omissions or errors are completely unintentional.

MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 43 MYCAT’s work would not have been possible without both in-kind and fi nancial support from various individuals, agencies and donors. We acknowledge the continued support from, and cooperation with, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, as well as the fi nancial support from the following donors between 2003 and 2013:

Grants > RM100,000 Benchmarx Patricia Zahara Ariffi n Foundation Irene Zambon Permanis Sandilands Sdn. Bhd. and Hitz.fm Save Our Species James Nichols SK Bukit Damansara Save the Tiger Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Japan Tiger and Elephant Fund SK RKT Bersia Foundation Lejadi Foundation SMK La Salle, Petaling Jaya Rhino and Tiger Conservation Fund, US Fish Lexi Knowles St. Patrick’s Society of Selangor and Wildlife Service Loong Kok Foong TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Malaysian Government (National Sports Tyra Filiz Couture Grants/donations < RM100,000 Council, Selangor State Government) Wildlife Conservation Society-Malaysia Alice Smith International School Programme Association of British Muna Noor Wong Horr Wai Barbara de Waard Malaysia Building Society Berhad Wong Young Soon 21st Century Tiger Malaysian Embassy in Berlin, Germany WWF-International Tiger Programme Darryl MacKenzie Margaret Eileen Hall WWF-Malaysia David Trees and Firdausia Hj. Omar Matthew Linkie Members of the public Dickerson Park Zoo Mont’ Kiara International School elc International School Michael John Hill ExxonMobil Malaysia Murayama Garden International School Panthera GEF Small Grants Programme Panthera and Woodland Park Zoo International School of Kuala Lumpur and Pan Technika

© Abraham Mathew/MYCAT

44 MYCAT TRACKS VOL. 5 2014 The main communication between MYCAT partners takes place in the MYCAT Working Group, which comprises representatives from partner organisations and the MYCAT Secretariat’s Offi ce. Acknowledgement is due to Heads of MYCAT partner organisations and Working Group members from 2003 to 2013:

Malaysian Nature Society Department of Wildlife and MYCAT Secretariat’s Offi ce Bernadette Chin (Honorary Treasurer for National Parks Peninsular Malaysia Dr. Kae Kawanishi MYCAT) Dato’ Abdul Rasid Samsudin Suzalinur Manja Bidin Balu Perumal Dr. Sivananthan Elagupillay Wong Pui May Andrew Sebastian Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim Ashleigh Kivilaakso Seow Yeap Chin Aik Hazril Rafh an Lavaniadevi Gopalakrishnan Mohamed Shah Redza Hussein Dato’ Musa Nordin Loretta Ann Shepherd Cliff ord Clement Noor Azura Ahmad Dr. Loh Chi Leong Wildlife Conservation Society Siti Hawa Yatim Kanitha Krishnasamy - Malaysia Programme Maye Yap Dr. Melvin Gumal Lim Teck Wyn Rick Gregory WWF-Malaysia Dato’ Dr. Dionysius Sharma TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Dr. Mark Rayan Darmaraj Dr. Chris R. Shepherd Dr. Pan Khang Aun Kanitha Krishnasamy Dr. Han Kwai Hin Dr. William Schaedla Surin Suksuwan Azrina Abdullah Gopalasamy Reuben Clements Elizabeth John Gareth Goldthorpe Julia Ng Brian Lee Eugene Lee Thean Sara Sukor

Independent researcher Dr. Gopalasamy Reuben Clements www.mns.my www.traffi c.org www.wcsmalaysia.org www.wwf.org.my

The Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT) is an alliance of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Wildlife Conservation Society-Malaysia Programme and WWF-Malaysia, supported by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, for joint implementation of the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan for Malaysia. MYCAT’s goal and objectives focus on saving the Malayan tiger in the wild, ensuring that it will survive into the next century.