There are around 500 Malayan tigers living on the Malayan Peninsula in Thailand and Malaysia. This sub-species is threatened by human-wildlife conflict and loss of habitat due to forest conversion for agriculture and development. The WWF-Malaysia 'Tigers Alive!' project seeks to address these and other threats to the Malayan tiger.
Malayan tiger
Malayan tiger
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Key Facts
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Common Name
Malayan Tiger
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Scientific Name
Panthera tigris jacksoni
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Status
IUCN: Endangered C2a(i); CITES: Appendix I
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Population
Estimated at 500 individuals
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Habitat
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
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Weight
100 - 120 kg
Only recently classified as a separate subspecies
The Malayan tiger was only identified as being a separate subspecies from the Indochinese tiger in 2004.
While morphologically similar to the Indochinese tiger, the Malayan tiger is smaller, being more similar in size to the Sumatran tiger.
It is found only in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, that is, in the southern tip of Thailand and the Malaysian Peninsular.
While morphologically similar to the Indochinese tiger, the Malayan tiger is smaller, being more similar in size to the Sumatran tiger.
It is found only in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, that is, in the southern tip of Thailand and the Malaysian Peninsular.
Where do the Malayan tigers live?
Malayan tigers live in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, sparsely distributed in isolated small forests, secondary vegetation, and abandoned agricultural land.
They mainly live in areas of low human and road density. Their low density (1.1-1.98 tigers per 100km2) is due to low prey numbers.
Their three main landscapes in Malaysia are Main Range (20,000km2), Greater Taman Negara (15,000km2), and the Southern Forest Complex (10,000km2). The majority (88%) of this subspecies' habitats are found in four Malaysian states: Pahang, Perak, Terengganu, and Kelantan.
Not much is known about the biology of Malayan tigers. They are known to prey on deer, wild boar, and sun bear.
They mainly live in areas of low human and road density. Their low density (1.1-1.98 tigers per 100km2) is due to low prey numbers.
Their three main landscapes in Malaysia are Main Range (20,000km2), Greater Taman Negara (15,000km2), and the Southern Forest Complex (10,000km2). The majority (88%) of this subspecies' habitats are found in four Malaysian states: Pahang, Perak, Terengganu, and Kelantan.
Not much is known about the biology of Malayan tigers. They are known to prey on deer, wild boar, and sun bear.
What are the main threats to the Malayan tiger?
Moreover, conversion of forests to agriculture or commercial plantations has resulted in more frequent encounters between tigers and livestock.
The cost for farmers can be high: for example, livestock loss due to tigers is estimated to have cost more than US$400,000 from 1993-2003 in Terengganu, one of the poorest areas in Peninsular Malaysia.
In retaliation, tigers are often killed by authorities or angry villagers, or else captured and put in zoos. Tigers killed as “conflict” animals often end up sold on the black market, creating a link between human-tiger conflict and poaching.
What is WWF doing?
The WWF-Malaysia Tigers Alive! project focuses on reducing human-tiger conflict and raising awareness through educational programmes, addressing tiger landscape connectivity as well as monitoring of tigers and their prey. Each component forms an important part of a broader approach to addressing tiger conservation in Malaysia.
Tx2 - we want to double the number of tigers in the wild
You can help
- Visit this page for a full list of actions you can take to help protect tigers and support our Tiger Campaign.
- The WWF-Malaysia website has a list of actions for anyone living in the region.
- Spread the word! Click on the button to share this information with others via email or your favourite social networking service.
Send a special e-card to friends and family and help spread the word about tiger conservation!
Send a special e-card to friends and family and help spread the word about tiger conservation!
