The main threats to Malayan tigers are habitat fragmentation and human-tiger conflict.
Threats to Malayan tigers
Lorries laden with logged rainforest timer. Kelantan, Peninsula Malaysia.
Coming into conflict with people
Logging operations and development of roads pose a big threat to tiger habitat in the Taman Negara Landscape.
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.
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.
