Tigers in Malaysia

Orang Asli, the indigenous people of Malaysia, have always lived in the forest. They know it by heart, and Royal Belum State Park, at the north of the country, is no exception.

However, in recent years, something changed in the oldest rainforest in the world. Animals are simply…disappearing. Tigers are now extremely rare to see, and finding food become less and less easy for a community entirely depending on what’s the forest can provides.

The reason of that situation? Snares.

Snares are deadly traps made from wire that are set by poachers in the hope of catching wildlife, and prized most of all is the tiger. Royal Belum State Park is one of the last strongholds of tigers in the country and the current tigers in Belum are whether the last generation of tigers in Malaysia, or alternatively, a generation of hope.

The Orang Asli, to save their way of life, have been patrolling in the forest since 2017 and have been able to reduce active snares by 98% across Royal Belum State Park. An incredible story and achievement.

Across Southeast Asia tiger populations are decreasing and in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam they’re already nationally extinct. Malaysia’s tiger population is at an all time low with less than 150 tigers left in the country. Their future hangs in the balance.