Liang Song Horng

Horng’s journey in wildlife conservation began in 1999 when he paused his bachelor’s studies at the University of Victoria, Canada, to join Malaysia’s first-ever tiger research project in Taman Negara National Park. Led by Dr. Kae Kawanishi for her PhD study, this experience ignited his lifelong dedication to conservation. After completing his degree, Horng worked on the Coastal Wolf Project in Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest with Dr. Chris Darimont of the Raincoast Conservation Foundation from 2003 to 2005.

Returning to Malaysia in 2005, Horng joined TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, conducting undercover investigations into the illegal trade of tigers, tiger prey, and Saiga antelope horns. He then spent nearly eight years with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Malaysia Program, where he initiated and managed tiger and prey conservation efforts in the Endau Rompin Landscape and later oversaw their Asian elephant program. During this time, he also earned a Master’s degree from the National University of Singapore.

In 2016, Horng founded Pertubuhan Pelindung Alam Malaysia (PELINDUNG) to expand Malaysia’s wildlife conservation capacity. From 2017 to 2020, PELINDUNG supported Jabatan PERHILITAN in conducting Malaysia’s first National Tiger Survey (NTS), covering over 16,000 square kilometres of previously unsurveyed forests. Since 2020, PELINDUNG has been instrumental in managing wildlife rangers under the Renjer Komuniti program, formerly known as the Veteran-Orang Asli program. This initiative protects Malayan tigers and other wildlife while empowering local communities.

Today, PELINDUNG oversees more than 500 rangers from 55 Orang Asli and local community posts, deploying over 80 anti-poaching teams monthly. The organization also conducts long-term tiger monitoring across 20,000 square kilometres in the Banjaran Titiwangsa and Greater Taman Negara Landscapes through a collaborative project with Jabatan PERHILITAN.

By adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, PELINDUNG focuses not only on saving Malayan tigers and their habitats but also on empowering the Orang Asli to become local champions and frontliners in protecting Malaysia’s national symbol—the Malayan tiger.

Making an impact requires a long-term, holistic approach rather than focusing on short-term, specific goals. For instance, saving the Malayan tiger is not just about protecting the species—it also safeguards other species in its habitat, such as elephants, sunbears, and gibbons. To ensure the tiger’s survival, empowering local communities, especially the Orang Asli, to become guardians of both tigers and other wildlife is key. This approach creates lasting benefits, not only for wildlife conservation but also for the social, economic, and cultural well-being of the local communities, preserving their traditional knowledge for future generations.