KLK Donates RM140,000 to Support Rangers in Weeding Out Poachers
Friday, 8 April 2022 | Royal Belum State Park, Perak Darul Ridzuan
Malaysia is a country rich in biodiversity. Unfortunately, the Malayan Tiger, our country’s national symbol, is on the verge of extinction. In the 1950s, Malaysia was estimated to have as many as 3,000 tigers. However, due to the rapid development, agricultural expansion and widespread illegal hunting, the population has declined to about 500 at the turn of the century.
From 2016 to 2020, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, WWF-Malaysia and other NGOs embarked on Malaysia’s first National Tiger Survey to determine the most recent and accurate status of tigers nationwide. The estimated number of the Malayan Tigers population then was less than 200 individuals. It may now have dwindled to less than 150 in the wild and they could go extinct within the next five to ten years unless significant measures are taken for their immediate conservation.
In line with our Corporate Responsibility (CR) objective under our Community and Environment pillars and to give our tigers a fighting chance, KLK presented a cash donation of RM140,000 to Persatuan Pelindung Harimau Malaysia (RIMAU) to support their patrol unit – the Menraq, and essential food items to 260 indigenous families living in the Royal Belum State Park.
RIMAU is a non-profit organisation working to save the Malayan Tigers by “putting boots on the ground” with a specialised patrol team called the Menraq, made up of members of the Jahai tribe who have lived in the Royal Belum-Temengor forest for centuries. Meaning “people” in the Jahai language, the creation of Menraq is to nurture a sense of ownership in wildlife conservation amongst the local Jahai living in Royal Belum State Park. This community patrolling project will not only raise their awareness of the plight of the Malayan Tiger and its habitat but also provide an alternative livelihood to the members and their village as a whole. The current Menraq Patrol Unit comprises 40 rangers.
Did You Know? The Malayan Tiger is Totally Protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and is classified as Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species.
Visit rimau.ngo for more information about RIMAU, their efforts and how you can play a role.