WITH the nation’s attention drawn to the environmental disaster in the Cameron Highlands earlier this month, an amazing success story went relatively unnoticed.
In a tiny sprawl of islands in the Pacific 18,516km away, the Espanola giant Galapagos Tortoise was saved from the jaws of extinction.
A dedicated conservation effort has helped the tortoise population, which stood at just 15 in the 1960s, to grow to more than 1,000.
Some 500 years ago, these herbivorous tortoises thrived on the Galapagos’ southern island but then humans arrived.
The tortoises were hunted for their meat and shells, and to make it worse, goats were introduced to the island, resulting in the depletion of vegetation, especially the native cacti, a vital source of food and shade for the tortoises.
No other species could leave a trail of destruction behind like humans can.
The blatant disregard of the environment has been a trademark of mankind for many years.
Despite advancements in knowledge and civility, there seems to be no end to our cruelty.
While the future looks bright for the Espanola giant Galapagos Tortoise, other members of the animal kingdom may not be so lucky.
Back home, our country’s most iconic animal is facing a bleak future.
The Panthera tigris jacksoni, more commonly known as the Malayan tiger has seen its numbers dwindle alarmingly over the years because of poaching and lost habitat.
In a recent media statement, the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (Mycat) noted that as much as 90 per cent of our tigers have been wiped out since Independence.
It also stated that between 2010 and 2013, non-governmental organisations destroyed more than 2,241 poachers’ traps and 1,728 illegal camp sites in protected areas and forest reserves.
Mycat has called for greater enforcement to protect the tigers from poachers, and this is a laudable move.
It will take fire to fight fire, good humans to stop bad ones.
This is where we, the people come in. We need to be the voice, the driving force behind saving our tigers. Regardless of political ideals and allegiance, the protection of the Malayan tiger is something politicians on either side of the divide can fight for.
As voters, we must push our elected representatives to be the catalyst for greater change, to demand greater protection for our tigers.
We often read about our elected representatives behaving worse than animals in parliament by cracking inane jokes or shouting over petty issues.
The Malayan tiger has long been a symbol of courage and unity for our people, it is synonymous with our identity.
If we can’t save the Malayan tiger, what hope do other endangered species in this country have?
As a symbol, the Malayan tiger has long spoken for us. Now, it needs us to speak up for it.