REF.NO:ZN/EDU/24/2017

stripesRainforest

The tiger is the biggest species of the cat family. There are six remaining subspecies fromnine. These include the Sumatran, Siberian, Bengal, South China, Malayan and Indochinese tigers. The extinct subspecies are the Balinese, Caspian and Javan tigers. The Malayan tiger is found premierly in lowland forests throughout peninsular Malaysia. Although it is hard to ascertain the total population of Malayan tigers left in the wild, 2016 statistics estimates it as less than 200 individuals, making it critically endangered!

The Malayan tiger is the second smallest of all the subspecies of the tiger family; the smallest being the Sumatran tiger. Their small size helps them to remain unseen in the clearer parts of the jungles. Their unique colours and stripes also help in camouflage when attacking their prey.

The Malayan tiger is a dominant and carnivorous predator. Tigers are solitary creatures, and will not usually be found hunting or living in packs like the lions of Africa. It hunts its prey by stalking until it has the opportunity to catch it off guard. The tiger may only make a kill once every three or four days and when it has killed its prey, it is likely to eat as much of it as possible in one meal. Malayan tigers primarily hunt larger mammals including deers, wild boars, cattles, and goats.

The gestation period of a tiger is around three to four months, after that period, the female tiger will give birth to a maximum of five cubs. Newborns usually weigh approximately one to two kilograms and are blind and helpless.

The mothers will feed the cubs with milk for two months before introducing them to meat which is their main diet. Malayan tiger cubs depend on their mother for 18 months to learn all the skills needed before they are let go to survive on their own. It is estimated that tigers live between 15 to 20 years in the wild.

Tigers are completely protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 2010, meaning that it is illegal to kill or possess any parts of a tiger. The main threats these tigers face are the inhumane activities of man. Tiger bones, sexual organs, blood and many other parts are regularly harvested and used in traditional medicines and exotic dishes. The loss of habitat is also a growing risk to the Malayan tigers.

A lot of campaigns have been done, both locally and nationally, to raise money for further researches and protection of the Malayan tigers. The task is not easy as on-going deforestation and loss of natural habitat results in lower numbers of the species. However, there are significant efforts already in place, so it is possible that these big cats will one day see their name removed from the list of endangered species.

Zookeeper, Umar Ashraf Bin Anuar, 29 from Penang has been working at Zoo Negara since 2011. Umar, who worked as a despatch previously, chose to leave his job to serve in Zoo Negara. Holding to the principle of ‘Always live a happy life’, he hopes to be a successful animal keeper in the future.

As a keeper, he describes a tiger as a ‘respected yet unpredictable animal’. He wishes that in the future, people will show more respect and appreciation towards animals so that animalabuse cases will come to an end.

“Do not blame God for having

created the tiger, but thank

Him for not having given

them wings”

quote

Tiger, Tiger, orange bright

In our jungles, day and night.

Where are you going, my long-loved friend?

Why does your sojourn have to end?

An historic symbol held so proud,

Your fiercesome form keeps us bowed

Your habitat, the forest wide,

Shrinks daily like the ebbing tide.

Of all the cats in all the earth

Yours skill show supreme worth.

Subduing your prey with silent stealth,

Your supple litheness brings constant wealth

Your sense of smell and keen eyesight,

Show survival skill through day and night.

Your whiskers perceive and limbs hold power,

Knowing when to retreat at any hour.

Your camouflage, in orange and brown,

Provide safe rests on shady ground.

The solitary life is yours by choice.

Marking with scent, you do rejoice.

Fifteen years is your usual span

Unless you’re killed by cruel man!

Your swimming skills are widely known,

With prey of boar and barking fawn.

Nemesis of the famous mouse-deer,

Poachers remain your greatest fear.

Oh, endangered creature, our Nation’s sign

It seems you are running out of time.

Enlightened folk are your greatest hope.

Only laws and aid can help you cope.

We need to keep your habitat wide,

To make you safe and stem the tide.

But I know for sure whatever unfurls,

You will live again on some other worlds!

By: Patricia Zaharah

Zoo Negara’s Volunteer

2007-2017

acknowledgement

znegaramalaysia zoonegara_malaysiaAdvisor : En. Ahmad NazrinEditor : En Junaidi Omar, En Herman Bernard Article written by : En Muhamad Fikri BurhanudinLay-out designed by : Pn Maznira Sylvia Azra MansorPhoto Credit : EDU Dept & PR Dept & IT Dept

J.C Jacobsen Foundation

Mock Cheque Presentation

Hazard Identification Field Work

by UPM EnVOCH students