The Malayan Tiger

Meet the Malayan Tiger!

Being the most recently identified tiger in the world by DNA testing, the Malayan Tiger is the smallest of all species of tigers. In fact, many individuals often mistake adult Malayan Tigers with adolescent Sumatran Tiger.
With population numbers around 500, you can find this tiger in the Malayan Peninsula. The main source of food for these small tigers are deer and other livestock.

DANGERS!

The Malayan Tiger faces one major threat: humans. The first avenue that threatens this species of tiger is the deforestation in Malaysia. Their natural habitats are being turned into turned into commercial plantations for vegetation and live stock reducing their ability to find adequate food and living spaces.
This limiting spaces has lead Malayan Tigers into these populated area in the search of food; which turns out to be the local farm's livestock. This loss of livestock to these poor farmer cause tensions to run high and many tigers are killed out of anger by not only the anger villagers, but authorities as well. The levels of livestock that were lost ignited governmental legislative decisions to order the elimination of all tigers!

Malaysian Geography

Geography Conservation will play a huge role in the re-population of the Malayan Tiger. As you can see in the map to the left, the current range of the tiger is significantly reduced from it's historic range. If we focus our efforts on the conservation of their natural habitat, instead of trying to physically repopulate the tigers through mating centers, we can provide the tigers with the opportunities to save themselves. To do this, we need to reduce the deforestation occurring in the Malayan Peninsula. Giving them the geography they used to utilize will allow them the ability to hunt for wildlife pray as well. This will save the Malaysian farmer by having the Tigers deeper into the wild, and not picking off their livestock. 

Current Conservation Efforts

Currently, the WWF have four major conservation effort in place to help protect these unique tigers.  Because of the level of conflict that arises with local farmers due to the loss of livestock, the WWF is leading on effort of knowledge sharing and livestock management best practices. Since this intervention, the livestock losses have dramatically decreased. The WWF was even able to help revesre the legislation I spoke about earlier by having the decision to eliminate all tigers reversed. Work with the government also includes conservation forest to ensure the protection of some of the tiger's natural habitat. 

Because the Malayan Tiger has been recently discovered, research is the key to help conserve these animals. Surveys and research teams are currently working hard to understand the populations and habits of the tiger to better focus on it's needs. A way to help with this research is the current outreach the WWF also reaches out to the local communities in the Malayan Peninsula. They again use knowledge sharing techniques with these individuals to share education on the importance of saving this species and how to avoid any dangers and conflicts with these unique tigers. 

SAVE US!

 Want to be a part of an amazing movement to help save these animals and their habitats? Look no further because there are tons of avenues on the internet! Here is just a few:

1. Sign the "Save the Malayan Tiger from Extinction": This petition was created to "We ask Malaysia to stop logging in the Temengor Rainforest and save the Malayan Tiger from extinction by providing protected, unfragmented habitat. The Belum-Temengor Forest Complex is one of the last refuges for amazing, yet highly threatened wildlife, such as the Malayan tiger, Asian elephant and Sunda pangolin"

 The petition already has 21,724 signature and it's goal is 22,000. Now is you chance to help! Sign the petition here:  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/801/096/358/save-the-malayan-tiger-from-extinction/

2. Donate your time or money! There are an incredible number of conservation center for the Malayan tiger in the United States, look into supporting their effort! As said before, we just discovered this unique species, it is our responsibility to make sure that does not go to waste!

•       Here are some US Conservation Locations: 
• http://mnzoo.org/tigerssp/malayanrConservation.html
• http://www.cafepress.com/wildcatzoo/10347762 - Show support and get a t-shirt!!
  
• http://account.yourcommunityfoundation.org/catalog/programs.shtml?org_need_app_id=11&org_id=10048
• http://www.wwf.org.my/about_wwf/what_we_do/species_main/tiger/malayan_tiger_conservation_project/

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4. Need another reason? Meet The Cincinnati Zoo's own Malayan Tiger Cubs!

 

Malayan Tiger FUN FACTS!

• The Malayan Tiger is the second-smallest tiger sub-species in the world
• The Cincinnati Zoo was the first to start a breeding program for the Malayan Tiger
• Though only recently discovered in the 21st century, the Malayan Tiger is Malaysia's national animal
• The Malayan Tiger is said to represent bravery and strength. 
• They have very high mortality rates as young tigers, with less than half living over two years old!