KUALA LUMPUR: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) through its scientific monitoring have reported a minimum of 15 new natural Malayan tiger births in Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, and Terengganu.
Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the births are among the positive developments of the implementation of the nine extraordinary conservation actions for the Malayan tiger, which were approved by the cabinet on June 16, 2021.
"These achievements demonstrate that efforts to save the Malayan tiger will yield results when the federal government and state governments collaborate and show a high level of commitment in addressing the Malayan tiger population crisis.
"The implementation of biodiversity patrols and ground control through the appointment of Community Rangers and the Integrated Khazanah Operations by Perhilitan in collaboration with the police, the Customs Department, Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, state authorities, and non-governmental organisations were successful with 531 seizures involving a total value of RM123.91 million," he said in a statement after chairing the second meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Task Force (MyTTF).
The meeting was attended by the Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah as well as representatives from Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, and Terengganu.
Nik Nazmi said The MyTTF meeting agreed to expand the implementation of the Conservation Assured |Tiger Standards (CA|TS) Accreditation Scheme to enhance the effectiveness of Malayan tiger habitat management.
For this purpose, he said, Perhilitan has been tasked with leading the implementation of CA|TS at the national level.
He said the meeting also agreed to designate the National Wildlife Forensic Laboratory as a Centre of Excellence through the enhancement of its functions, research technology equipment, and strategic cooperation and to establish a Forward Operation Base by the police at the Zabri Camp site in Hulu Perak.
"I am confident that the agreement between the federal government and state governments to strengthen the conservation and preservation of our iconic national species, the Malayan tiger, as demonstrated today, will drive transformative change and serve as a catalyst for implementing more extraordinary actions.
"This is crucial to further reinforce our nation's agenda to ensure that the species symbolising our national identity remains in existence indefinitely," he said.