About

The Malayan Tiger

The Malayan tiger was only recognized as a separate subspecies in 2004 — a late discovery that may prove to be a tragic one. Named after the tiger conservationist Peter Jackson, the Malayan tiger is now found only in the Malay Peninsula and a small part of southern Thailand, and it may have fewer than 100 individuals left in the wild.

The numbers are shocking. In the 1950s, roughly 3,000 Malayan tigers roamed the peninsula. Today, there may be as few as 80-120. That's a decline of 95% in 70 years. The reasons are the same ones that have decimated tigers across Asia: poaching for the traditional medicine trade, prey depletion, and habitat loss.

Malaysia declared the Malayan tiger the national animal in 2023, but declarations don't stop bullets. Tigers are being shot, snared, and poisoned. Without a dramatic change in enforcement, the Malayan tiger will likely go extinct within this decade.

Threats

What's Killing the Malayan Tiger?

Poaching 5/5

Bones and skin for traditional medicine

Habitat loss 4/5

Development fragments forest reserves

Prey depletion 5/5

Hunters have wiped out deer and boar

Conservation

What's Being Done?

  • National Tiger Conservation Action Plan
  • Increased anti-poaching enforcement
  • Prey species restocking programs
  • Habitat connectivity between forest reserves
    • Population History

    How We Got Here

    Watch

    See the Malayan Tiger in the Wild

    Documentary: Malayan Tiger

    Updates

    Latest Conservation News

    Take Action

    Help Save the Malayan Tiger

    Every action counts. Here are proven ways to make a real difference for Malayan Tiger conservation.

    How You Can Help Daily

    Commit

    Make a Difference Today

    I PLEDGE TO

    0 people have taken this pledge