IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Kawanishi, K. | |
| Panthera tigris ssp. jacksoni, Malayan tiger | |
| 2015 Full Book | |
The Malayan Tiger qualifies for listing as Critically Endangered (CR) under criterion C1 because the best available evidence indicates that the number of mature individuals is likely less than 250 animals and has declined >25% in one generation (seven years, see Panthera tigris species account). The estimated nationwide population continues to decline from roughly 3,000 in the 1950s (Locke 1954) to 500 between 1990 (Topani 1990) and 2003 (Kawanishi et al. 2003) to an estimate of 250-340 in 2013 (Hedges et al. unpubl., Kawanishi unpubl., WCS Malaysia Programme unpubl. WWF Malaysia unpubl.). This indicates a greater than 25% decline in approximately the last generation. Small sample sizes are a challenge to reliably estimate the population size of rare species. Although these estimates are only approximations and not based on a nationwide Tiger survey, compared to the largely guesswork of the earlier figures based on expert knowledge and limited information, the current estimate is inferred from a range of mean density estimates from seven population studies conducted across all three Tiger landscapes identified in the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan (DWNP 2008) between 2004 and 2013 (Rayan 2007, Rayan and Mohamad 2009, Rayan 2012, Hedges et al. unpubl., Kawanishi unpubl., WCS Malaysia Programme unpubl. WWF Malaysia unpubl.) and the estimated areas occupied by Tigers based on the year 2000 figure and the annual rate of loss since 1980 (DWNP 2010). Differences in methodologies and accuracy make the direct comparison difficult, but we believe that the best available evidence suggests population decline. The estimated 250-340 adult Tigers translate to the effective population size of 80-120 breeding adults. Repeated studies of Tiger populations over one generation exist only in the two areas: Gunung Basor Forest Reserve in 2004-05 (Rayan and Shariff 2009) and 2012 (WWF-Malaysia unpubl. data); and Taman Negara Pahang in 1999 (Kawanishi and Sunquist 2004) and 2011 (Kawanishi unpubl. data). In these areas, the density estimates declined by at least 50 and 90%, respectively. The Tiger habitat has declined from the original extent of 98,818 km2 prior to the 1970s to 75,079 km2 in 1980 to 55,387 km2 in 2000 at the average annual loss of 1.51% between 1980 and 2000 (DWNP 2010). With that rate, the projected tiger habitat in 2014 is 44,761 km2. Only 15% of the tiger habitat is in Protected Areas (PAs) (DWNP 2010) and forests outside PAs continued to be cleared for monoculture plantations. In 2005, the Malaysian Cabinet tasked the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities to initiate an aggressive programme to develop forest plantations throughout the country. Under this programme, tree plantations are being established via the conversion of privately or state owned forests, including forest reserves. Natural forests within forest reserves converted to rubber plantations for example increased >1500% from 22 km2 in 2005 to 349 km2 in 2012 (FDPM 2012). According to the official publication, including other species such as acacia and teak, the total loss of the natural forest inside forest reserves as of 2010 was 1,087 km2. This trend of habitat loss is expected to continue as the government has embarked on expanding commercial forest plantation programmes to 3,750 km2 over a 15 year period from 2006 to 2020 while providing soft loans and tax exemption incentives (MPIC 2009). Across rapidly shrinking global tiger range (Walston et al. 2010, Goodrich et al. 2015), the growing affluent Chinese population is fuelling the demand for illegally sourced Tiger parts (Nowell 2007, Anonymous 2014). Analysis of government seizure records involving Tigers across Asia found that parts equivalent to at least 1,425 Tigers have been seized from 2000-2013 (Stoner and Pervushina 2013). This analysis revealed that in Malaysia, parts equivalent to at least 94 Tigers were seized over 33 seizures in the same period. The threat to Tigers from illegal commercial trade was further illustrated in Malaysia when in 2012, Tiger parts representing at least 22 Tigers were seized in the State of Kedah, making this the largest seizure of Tigers ever in Malaysia (Shepherd et al. 2013). Tigers even in the three priority areas identified in the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan (DWNP 2008) are not safe from the poaching threat as indicated by >952 snares uncovered and 29 multi-national poachers arrested just between 2010 and 2011 (MYCAT 2012). Prey base depletion was considered a leading threat to Tigers across much of their range (Sanderson et al. 2006). Thus the population decline may not be reversible where Tiger habitats (DWNP 2010) or the principle prey species, such as Sambar Rusa unicolor, (Kawanishi et al. 2014), Bearded Pig Sus barbatus (Kawanishi et al. 2006) and Banteng Bos javanicus (DWNP 2010) were lost. Sambar populations have declined in both abundance and distribution even inside PAs where they were not adequately protected. The Malayan Tiger is also listed as CR under criteria C2a(i). Assuming that each Tiger landscape is fully occupied, there is no subpopulation >50 mature individuals at the estimated mean Tiger density of <0.60 adult individuals/100km2 based on the recent population studies mentioned above. |
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