Peninsular Malaysia holds some of the world’s oldest, most intact rainforests and is home to seven wild cat species, including the rare Malayan Tiger, and their prey. These majestic cats and an abundance of other species are threatened by poaching, logging and exploitation of less-regulated forest areas.

Rainforest Trust and our partner, Panthera, will expand the existing network of high-quality big-cat habitat by safeguarding 332,541 acres in Malaysia’s most important tiger stronghold, the 1.4 million-acre greater Taman Negara National Park landscape. The new protections will be achieved with the creation of the 102,905-acre Tembeling Protected Area and upgrading the protection status of the adjacent 229,636-acre Gunung Aais Forest Reserve with on-the-ground safeguards against poaching.

Part of a 20-year strategy to save the entire central forest spine of Peninsular Malaysia for threatened species, the new protected area offers connections to Kenyir State Park, created by Rainforest Trust in 2018, and other forest and watershed reserves. Our partner and other stakeholders will also advocate for the need to restrict the uses of a proposed new road that will cross the northern portion of the protected area, where the virtually undisturbed, primary rainforest of Gunung Aais Forest Reserve is a carbon vault of global significance.

Header photo:  Malayan Tiger, by Felineus

Support Anti-Poaching Patrols to Protect Big Cats

This is one of the most cat-rich areas of the world. The seven wild cat species whose ranges overlap here are: Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Leopard Cat, Flat-headed Cat, Marbled Cat and the Asiatic Golden Cat. Tiger and Leopard are targeted by poachers through the heavy use of snares, which endanger non-target species as well. This illegal practice occurs throughout Southeast Asia and is driving severe declines in threatened species.

This project will support a rigorous program of anti-poaching patrols in the expanded tiger park. Panthera staff will evaluate wildlife safety measures and work with local governments, communities and other partners to elevate protections.

Protect an Extraordinary Array of Mammal Species

Over 150 mammal species have been documented within the Taman Negara forest complex. In addition to the cats, other species found in the new park include elephants, Sun Bear, Gaur, Sambar Deer, Dhole, Malay Tapir, primates (like the Long-tailed Macaque), pangolins, otters and bats. Critically Endangered birds include the Helmeted Hornbill and the Malay Crestless Fireback, a ground-dweller that has suffered from decades of overhunting and habitat loss.

To limit threats posed by the proposed new road across the state park, our partner and other stakeholders will advocate for creation of a wildlife crossing and will propose strategies to mitigate poaching, including restrictions on road use and imposition of a fee on road users.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT >