THE Menraq Patrol Unit of Royal Belum State Park in Perak, Malaysia, has achieved a historic milestone by winning the prestigious IUCN WCPA International Ranger Award 2023 on the occasion of World Ranger Day.
This remarkable achievement marks the first time a Malaysian team has been bestowed with this honour in its third year of existence.
The annual International Ranger Award, organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, in partnership with the International Ranger Federation, Re:wild, Conservation Allies, Universal Ranger Support Alliance, IUCN US, and WWF Tigers Alive Initiative, aims to recognise the outstanding efforts of rangers in safeguarding protected areas worldwide.
The International Ranger Award honours all types of rangers including Indigenous, community, and volunteer rangers as well as those employed in protected and conserved areas. Nominations are encouraged regardless of duties, gender, ethnicity, or geographic location.
The team's win was announced during an online ceremony held at around 8.30pm local time on Wednesday. A total of 114 nominations were received from 52 countries this year, which saw nine awards being presented.
Expressing his pride in this achievement, HRH Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, the Sultan of Perak, extends his congratulations and deep appreciation to every member of the Menraq Patrol Unit. "I hope that this success will serve as a catalyst to inspire the Jahai indigenous community to continue their efforts in safeguarding the Malayan tigers, ensuring that this highly valuable national treasure will not disappear from our nation," he says.
SENTINELS OF ROYAL BELUM STATE PARK
For Mohamed Shah Redza Hussein, director of Perak State Parks Corporation, bringing in the indigenous tribe who live within the forest complex to help combat illegal poaching was a step in the right direction. In partnership with Rimau, a non-governmental organisation devoted to protecting the Malayan tiger and its habitat, the state park developed and activated this community-based wildlife protection patrol unit.
The unit is a specialised wildlife patrol outfit made up entirely of the local indigenous Jahai community. The word menraq means people in their language. Comprising the Jahai Orang Asli, the team operate within the Royal Belum State Park to protect the critically endangered Malayan tiger and preserve the Royal Belum landscape against poachers.
"The IUCN World Ranger Award serves as a tribute to the remarkable work undertaken by park rangers worldwide, who serve as guardians of our precious ecosystems and biodiversity," says Shah Redza, adding: "We are immensely proud to witness the Menraq Patrol Unit of Royal Belum State Park being honoured this year, acknowledging their outstanding commitment to community-based protection and landscape conservation."
The ecstatic Ardi bin Kembong, Menraq team leader, emphasises their commitment to maintain a safe environment for the Malayan tiger and other wildlife, securing a better future for generations to come. He expresses the team's gratitude for the award and hopes that their efforts will encourage other Orang Asli communities to join the fight in protecting their tigers.
"Rimau is delighted with this award — it recognises the team's dedication and hard work. The Menraq team has shown amazing growth and overcome many challenges. Rimau is very proud of their contribution towards tiger conservation in Royal Belum," says Lara Ariffin, president of Rimau.
She goes on to say that Rimau takes pride in the Menraq team's contribution to tiger conservation in Royal Belum and acknowledges the crucial role played by sponsors such as Yayasan Hasanah, Yayasan Sime Darby, Billplz, KLK, and others. This collaborative effort, she points out, underscores the significance of collective action in protecting our natural heritage and ensuring the survival of endangered species.
Rohit Singh, Asia representative, International Ranger Federation and director of Protected and Conserved Area Management and Governance, said he hoped that the award would encourage other tiger sites in South East Asia to improve protection in partnership with Indigenous People and local communities.
The recognition received by the Menraq Patrol Unit is expected to inspire more young individuals to join the ranger efforts on the ground, contributing to the protection of critical habitats and biodiversity conservation in the country. Collaborative efforts involving local communities, indigenous peoples, and park authorities optimise the use of resources and enable various parties to play a role in conservation.
The Menraq team has been supported in their training by Perhilitan, Pelindung, WWF Malaysia, and Panthera. To further aid their efforts, the team receives a financial reward of US$10,000 (RM45,495) and a custom uniform patch as a symbol of their remarkable achievement.
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