From the majestic Malayan tiger to the playful orangutan, Malaysia boasts an abundance of iconic wildlife… for the time being.
Regrettably, various threats, including habitat destruction and poaching, have significantly dwindled the numbers of these renowned creatures. Presently, Malaysia’s emblematic animals are perilously nearing extinction.
Yet, there is hope.
Dedicated activists have tirelessly devoted themselves to safeguarding Malaysia’s wildlife, striving to guarantee the perpetual thriving of our most cherished species.
#1: Dr Mark Rayan Darmaraj and the Malayan tiger
Long, long ago, the ‘Pak Belang’ or Malayan tiger was king of the Malaysian rainforest. This majestic predator, distinguished by its distinctive striped coat, represented strength and resilience for the nation. It even served as the inspiration for the national sports team’s livery.
But its reign is long gone; with only 150 adult Malayan tigers roaming in the wild (a drastic drop from the 3,000 in the 1950s)[1], it would seem that the country’s emblem will be the only trace of this magnificent beast left in the future.
Habitat loss and fragmentation caused by the large-scale conversion of forests into oil palm plantations and roads are some of the primary threats to the survival of the Malayan tiger. Tigers require large spaces for their territories, and the isolation of their forest habitats will increase their susceptibility to localised extinctions due to diseases and inbreeding[2].
Arguably, the biggest threat that the Malayan tiger faces right now is poaching and illegal trafficking of their body parts. Many East Asian cultures ascribe medicinal qualities to tiger body parts, including their bones, blood and sexual organs[3].
Their parts are believed to be used for traditional medicine, local remedies and increasingly as status symbols among some Asian cultures, like in China. – Lara Ariffin, Tiger Protection Society of Malaysia (Rimau) president[4]
Lara Ariffin, the president of RIMAU, a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to protecting tigers and their habitat, believes that tigers can make a comeback if they are provided with essential conditions such as food, suitable habitat, and protection. Examples from countries like Nepal and India, which have undertaken successful conservation efforts, demonstrate that the tiger population can thrive under such circumstances.
However, saving tigers is not merely about protecting a single species. It involves maintaining the delicate equilibrium of the entire ecosystem.
Tigers are not just an icon. Their role is so important that if we were to lose them, we [would] lose our rainforests. If tigers are gone, then you get an excess of deer. When you have an excess of deer and wild boar, they will eat all the vegetation in the rainforest. And then you have this collapse of the ecosystem. – Lara Ariffin, president of RIMAU[5]
This is a task that Dr Mark Rayan Darmaraj has taken on.
Dr Mark has been working at WWF-Malaysia for the past 14 years and currently leads the Malayan Tiger Conservation Programme. He is the first and only Malaysian thus far to hold a PhD in Tiger Ecology, and his research has contributed greatly to the conservation planning for Malayan tigers and other species like the Asian tapir.
I believe that there is still hope for our tigers in Malaysia. I for one, do not want to see our national symbol of pride, which proudly flanks our Jata Negara, disappear from the face of the earth forever. Together, we can save our Malayan tigers from extinction. – Dr Mark Rayan Darmaraj[6]
With less than 200 tigers in Malaysia left Dr Mark warned that without proper protection, Malaysia’s icon could go extinct in the near future.
If we leave things as they are, the Malayan tiger could be driven into extinction even faster. By taking care of tigers, the apex predator, we are also protecting the ecosystem. The abundance of tigers is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. – Dr Mark Rayan Darmaraj[7]
He notes that besides captive-breeding programmes and efforts to prevent poaching and deforestation, protecting and restoring the populations of the tigers’ primary prey such as wild boar, bearded pigs and sambar deer is also vital to tiger conservation.
In my humble opinion, what is really needed now is for us to have a strategy to augment prey species in the wild through a combination of improving food availability in the habitat for prey and professionalising the captive breeding of sambar or even bearded pigs, with the intention of increasing tiger prey availability and density. – Dr Mark Rayan Darmaraj[8]
Nevertheless, Dr. Mark believes that if Malaysians work together to make tiger conservation a national priority, we can still save our tigers. When asked what drives Dr. Mark to keep doing what he’s doing every day, he said:
(It’s because of) two things mainly – my stellar team at WWF-Malaysia, who work tirelessly every day to push for greater protection for our tigers, and my daughter who’s just three months shy of her second birthday. She is a daily reminder that it is our duty as Malaysians to ensure that our rich biodiversity remains intact and protected for generations to come.[6]
Listen to his BFM interview here.
#2: Gavin Jolis and sea turtles
We’ve all heard of “Mother Nature” and “Father Time” but what about “Turtle Father (Bapa Penyu)”?
That’s the nickname of marine conservationist and everyday superhero, Gavin Jolis, who got it after working on sea turtles in Semporna (a small district in the southeast of Sabah) for 8 years[6].
Building from my interest towards the marine environment, I have always wanted to be part of any conservation efforts or projects. Hence, I enrolled myself and received a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Science from Universiti Malaysia Sabah in 2009. I then had the opportunity to be an intern for WWF-Malaysia, which has led me to my 8th year with the organisation. – Gavin Jolis[9]
A senior marine conservation officer for WWF-Malaysia based in Kota Kinabalu, Gavin focuses his activities on protecting sea turtles, working together with various stakeholders to reduce the threats of poaching and illegal trade of turtle eggs. He also looks into the impacts of climate change on marine species and coastal communities[6].
According to Gavin, his interest in wildlife conservation began with every little boy’s favourite prehistoric animal — the dinosaurs.
Since I was a child, I was intrigued with my surrounding environment. It all started with interest in prehistoric animals (Hint: Jurassic Park!); then, I gradually moved on to wildlife. Subsequently, spending hours watching National Geographic and Discovery Channel documentaries at night may have also sparked my interest in the marine environment even further – and the rest is history. – Gavin Jolis[9]
He is currently attached to the WWF’s Marine Programme, which focuses on sustainable fisheries and seafood, protection of marine ecosystem and, of course, marine turtle conservation.
My focus is on marine turtles; looking into addressing the threat of poaching (also known as direct-take) of turtles, trade and consumption of turtle eggs in Sabah. In addition to that, I also look into addressing the impacts of climate change on marine turtles as well as the coastal communities. – Gavin Jolis[9]
His work is much needed, for sea turtles are under threat. The year 2020 saw a rather alarming number of sea turtle deaths in Terengganu, with 55 cases reported by the state fisheries department. Its director, Ruzaidi Mamat, noted that although the number showed a decrease compared with 78 in 2019, he believed there were many deaths that were not reported to the department[10].
Usually, turtle deaths are reported when they are caught in fishing nets or in accidents such as being hit by a boat propeller. There was only one recent case of the brutal killing of a female turtle at Pulau Kapas in Marang by perpetrators who wanted to steal her eggs. – Ruzaidi Mamat[10]
Several species of sea turtles, including Green, Hawksbill and Leatherback, make their nests on Malaysian shores where they (and their hatchlings) are a major tourist draw. The shores of Malacca in West Malaysia see 200 to 300 turtles, while the largest population of Hawksbills in the world can be found at the Turtle Islands in Sabah, where an average of 500 to 600 turtles nest each season[11].
Sadly, these turtle species are endangered by a multitude of threats including bycatch, coastal development, climate change and the collecting of their eggs for consumption and sale.
Beyond climate change and poaching, sea turtles are also in danger from another threat – plastic pollution in the ocean.
The plastic in the sea highly threatens our precious marine turtles as they can accidentally ingest the plastic, which they often mistake for jellyfish. A turtle that is caught in plastic may be unable to come up for air; thus drowning in its own habitat. – Gavin Jolis[6]
In his 8 years of work, Gavin has seen communities come together and share the same passion for protecting wildlife, and this is what drives him to keep doing what he does in the organisation. He also hopes to continue educating the younger generations in order to inspire them to continue his mission of protecting our marine life.
Turtles are the nation’s heritage and we should be proud of it. Everyone holds a responsibility in the future of our marine life. Malaysians, as custodians of our rich and mega-diverse environment, need to stand united in conserving, enhancing and protecting our biodiversity and heritage for the present and future generations. – Gavin Jolis[9]
#3: Dr Wong Siew Te and sun bears
The world’s smallest bear, the sun bear plays a vital role in ensuring the health of its rainforest habitat. They help disperse seeds and keep termite populations down, helping tropical tree species. They dig for invertebrates in the soil, which enhances the forest’s nutrient cycle through mixing rich and poor soil. They also create nesting sites for animals, such as hornbills and flying squirrels, by tearing open tree trunks to reach the honey inside[12].
Unfortunately, the sun bear is classified as ‘vulnerable’ to extinction. The sun bears face threats such as habitat loss due to logging, expansion of oil palm plantations, and poaching for their gallbladders (bear bile is used as a medicine in China and Vietnam. Many bears are captured alive so that they can be reared in bear farms[13] and the illegal pet trade, with bear cubs being taken from mothers and kept in small cages with inadequate care[12]
Wildlife biologist and ecologist Wong Siew Te, affectionately known as “Papa Bear” has been committed to ensuring that the world’s smallest bear continues to thrive.
The Penang-born biologist is the founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan, Sabah. As the world’s only sun bear sanctuary, the BSBCC is the world’s only sun bear sanctuary and works closely with the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) to rescue, rehabilitate and eventually release captive bears illegally kept as pets or displayed in recreation parks, mini-zoos and crocodile farms across Sabah. Today, over 40 rescued sun bears reside in its sprawling 25,000m2 facility within the Sepilok-Kabili Forest Reserve[14].
According to Dr. Wong, he first stumbled upon sun bears—the second rarest bear species after giant pandas, while studying overseas.
I went to the States to do my degree, master’s, and PhD in wildlife. There, I met a professor who was looking for a Malaysian to do a study on sun bears. So in 1994, I began studying sun bears for my master’s thesis, and in 1998 I came to Sabah for the first time on my own to start a sun bear research programme. – Dr Wong Siew Te[6]
To date, Wong has successfully raised, rehabilitated and released eight bears into the wild – with plans for more in the future. According to him, the moment of releasing the rehabilitated bears is a bittersweet one.
My last words for them is always, ‘I wish that you’ll live long in the forest and never see any humans again!’ – Dr Wong Siew Te[14]
He also urges all Malaysians to go out there and visit their local hutan lipur and taman negara, or volunteer at places like conservation centres. He believes that once you’ve had that firsthand experience, you will fall in love with Malaysia’s wildlife and naturally want to help improve the situation, just like he did[6].
#4: Melvin Gumal and orangutans
The Bornean orangutan is one of Malaysia’s most iconic animals. The ‘old man of the forest’ was once widespread but can now only be found in small, fragmented populations in Borneo. At present, there are about 104,000 individuals left in the wild, but their populations are sharply declining[15].
The single biggest threat to the orangutan is the expanding palm oil industry; millions of acres of rainforest are cut down to make way for oil palm plantations. Many palm oil companies will even use uncontrolled burning to make way for their crops, leading to wildfires that decimate even more orangutan habitats. Some experts estimate that at the current rate of habitat destruction for palm oil, orangutans could face extinction in as few as 10-15 years[16].
Melvin Gumal, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society Malaysia Program since 2003, has been working hard to protect this valuable species. The winner of the Whitley Award on Conservation in Ape Habitats works together with stakeholders at all levels to protect over 2,000 km² of contiguous orangutan habitat in Sarawak[17].
In particular, Melvin has been working together with local Iban landowners to protect orangutan habitats, educating younger generations on the importance of conserving natural places and learning to live in harmony with nature rather than exploit it.
In this moment, I could see four generations of a family connected through a passion to save orangutans and their habitats. – Melvin Gumal, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society Malaysia Program[18]
Following the receipt of the Whitley Award, Melvin acknowledged how the honor significantly elevated the visibility of his orangutan conservation project within the country. This recognition played a pivotal role in enhancing access to key decision-makers. Notably, there has been a heightened commitment from the Sarawak Government to combat illegal logging.
In 2015, the Chief Minister declared his intent to safeguard the estimated 2,500 orangutans in the state through a series of measures. These initiatives encompassed ceasing the expansion and establishment of oil palm plantations, halting the issuance of new timber logging licenses, and ensuring a complete halt to the commercial trade of orangutans[17].
Additionally, 2017 saw the first orangutan drama contest for three secondary schools in Kuching being organised as well as a participatory photography contest and orangutan-themed performances at 10 longhouses in the Ulu Engkari area.
Local community stories and taboos against the killing of orangutans have been compiled into a book as a means to galvanise existing taboos and thus protect the orangutans. Local radio has also been used as a means of spreading messages on the importance of protecting orangutans and building local pride.
Overall, Melvin’s efforts have truly paid off.
#5: Dr Nurzhafarina Othman and pygmy elephants
The Borneo pygmy elephant (or Bornean elephant) is one of four subspecies of the Asian Elephant. And is, in fact, the smallest living elephant in the world, being 30% smaller than the mainland Asian elephant. A full-grown pygmy elephant can be 8.2 ft to 9.8 ft tall and they normally weigh about 6,500-11,000 pounds! They may be small by elephant standards, but they are still the largest land animal in Borneo[19].
Sadly, the threats that these gentle Borneo giants are facing are no different from those of other elephants everywhere. They also fall prey to hunting and poaching because of the elephant ivory trade, as well as habitat loss and fragmentation due to logging and oil palm plantations.
Worse still, they often encroach onto human settlements, leading to violent conflicts. As reported by Star Newspaper, at least 18 of these giants have been killed since April 2018. If this isn’t heartbreaking, we don’t know what is[19].
Dr Nurzhafarina “Farina” Othman has been working to protect these gentle giants, ever since she studied captive pygmy elephants for her final year as a student of Conservation Biology at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia. She would later join the conservation NGO group Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) as coordinator for its elephant programs while also working on her part-time PhD studies at Cardiff University in 2010. Her efforts were internationally recognised when she won the Disney Conservation Hero Award in 2015.
It was thanks to her work and efforts that DGFC successfully increased the level of protection for Bornean elephants to the highest legally available in Sabah. Currently, she also hopes to influence and assist decision-making during any land transformation process by other parties to avoid human-elephant conflicts.
In this area, one of the biggest achievements by DGFC was to secure a riparian reserve along the Kinabatangan River from an oil palm company, ensuring that the movement of not just the elephants but also other animal species is not restricted.
Explore our sources:
- Yayasan Hasanah. (2023). The Hasanah Report 2022: Safeguarding the Malayan Tiger. Link
- E. Ding. (2022.) Malaysia: Is there still a chance to save the Malayan tiger? Al Jazeera. Link.
- MyCAT. Link.
- A. David. (2022). ‘Even tigers’ whiskers not spared by poachers’. New Straits Times. Link.
- Our Better World. (2022). RIMAU: When It Comes to Saving the Malayan Tiger, the Time Is Now. Link
- Maxis. (2018). These Malaysians Are The Reason Why Our Endangered Animals Are Still Surviving. Says. Link.
- N. Daim & H. Naz Harun. (2019). Tigers extinct by 2022? New Straits Time. Link.
- S. Leoi Leoi. (2023). Making sure the Malayan tiger keeps burning bright. The Star. Link.
- SevenPie. (2018). GAVIN JOLIS: MALAYSIA’S BIO MARINE CONSERVATIONIST WHOSE LOVE FOR WILDLIFE AND NATURE IS BEYOND MEASURE. Link.
- Bernama. (2021). Sea turtle death rate in Terengganu alarming, says dept. FMT. Link.
- Club Med. Link.
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Link.
- E. Koshy. (2020). Malaysia and Southeast Asia at the heart of massive wildlife trade. New Straits Times. Link.
- S. Khan. (2020). Meet Malaysia’s “Papa Bear”, Dr. Wong Siew Te who’s fighting to save the Malayan sun bear. Going Places. Link.
- Malaysian Wildlife. Link.
- Orangutan Species Survival Plan. Link.
- M. Gumal. (2017). CONSERVATION OF ORANG-UTANS IN SARAWAK. WFN. Link.
- M. Gumal. (2017). In Borneo, 4 Generations of Orang-utan Conservation. Medium. Link.
- Borneo Eco Tours. (2018). Things You Need To Know About the Borneo Pygmy Elephants, Borneo’s Gentle Giants. Link.
