Gerik, Malaysia, October 5th, 2009—A dramatic rescue unfolded on Sunday as WWF’s Wildlife Protection Unit (WPU) freed a five-year-old male tiger from a poacher’s snare.
The tiger was found trapped near a highway that cuts through the Belum-Temengor forest complex in Perak, a vital habitat for the endangered species. During a routine patrol on Saturday, the Wildlife Protection Unit (WPU) members discovered the ensnared tiger.
They had spotted two motorcycle men who fled when the WPU approached them earlier. Upon investigation, the team found the tiger with its right foreleg caught in a wire snare.
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) officers arrived early Sunday morning and successfully freed the tiger. The animal is now under the care of Perhilitan at the Malacca Zoo, where veterinarians hope its leg can be saved without amputation.
Shabrina Mohd Shariff, the Director of Perhilitan Perak, confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with initial findings indicating that the suspected poachers may be from Kelantan.
This incident is a stark reminder of the threats the remaining wild tigers face in the Belum-Temengor forests, one of Malaysia’s last refuges for these majestic animals.
A joint statement by WWF Malaysia and TRAFFIC highlighted that this tiger is likely just one of many victims of poaching in the region, where the demand for tiger parts continues to fuel illegal hunting.
The Belum-Temengor forest complex is one of three priority areas identified in Malaysia’s National Tiger Action Plan and plays a crucial role in global tiger conservation.
However, it faces significant challenges from poaching and encroachment, which endanger the species’ survival.
The area’s proximity to the Malaysia-Thai border and the accessibility provided by the Gerik-Jeli highway make it a hotspot for poachers. Despite efforts by Perhilitan and the WPU, the vast terrain and the highway remain under-patrolled, leaving the area vulnerable.
In a related incident, a Thai national was arrested in August with pangolin scales and agarwood near the highway, one of ten poachers detained in the area over the past nine months. During this time, authorities removed 101 snares, underscoring the ongoing battle against wildlife crime.
“If the WPU rangers hadn’t spotted the suspected poachers, the outcome for that tiger could have been much worse,” said Dato’ Dr. Dionysius Sharma, CEO of WWF-Malaysia.
“This incident highlights the urgent need for stronger enforcement in the Belum-Temengor area. We need more resources and an anti-poaching task force.”
Chris R. Shepherd, Regional Acting Director for TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, emphasized that the continued killing of tigers threatens their survival.
“There is still hope for saving tigers in Malaysia, but it requires increased enforcement to protect critical areas like the Belum-Temengor complex and decisive action against poachers,” he said.
Wildlife biologist Dr. Kae Kawanishi noted that the official estimate for wild tigers in Peninsular Malaysia is only 500, a sharp decline from the 3,000 estimated in the 1950s.
“Snares kill indiscriminately. This cruel, illegal act must be condemned by society. Despite severe penalties, poaching remains a significant threat to wildlife,” said Kae, part of the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers Secretariat.
“To meet the goals of the National Tiger Action Plan, which aims to double the wild tiger population by 2020, poaching cannot be tolerated in Malaysia,” Kae added.
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