Hunters become the hunted as gov't increases anti-poacher patrols
The Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry has stepped up its efforts against wildlife poachers in three major forest reserve areas.
Minister Dr Xavier Jeyakumar said a multi-agency task force has been identified for deployment at the Taman Negara National Park in Pahang, Royal Belum State Park in Perak, and Endau Rompin National Park in Johor...
The Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry has stepped up its efforts against wildlife poachers in three major forest reserve areas.
Minister Dr Xavier Jeyakumar said a multi-agency task force has been identified for deployment at the Taman Negara National Park in Pahang, Royal Belum State Park in Perak, and Endau Rompin National Park in Johor.
"In escalating efforts to ensure the protection of the Malayan tiger, the government will increase the number of patrols on the ground under the Tiger Protection and Patrolling Programme.
"The ministry, through Perhilitan together with the armed forces and the police, will reinforce this campaign via the 'Boots on The Ground' programme targeting the hotspots to protect tiger habitats," he said during his speech at the National Wildlife Day 2019 celebrations in Cheras today.
According to Xavier, the ministry, through the Wildlife Department, will embark on a two-year "Save Our Malayan Tiger" campaign as part of efforts to curb the specie's dwindling population, down to less than 200 in the wild.
"If we do not act now to preserve the Malayan Tiger, I fear that Harimau Malaya, as a national treasure and our pride, will go into extinction and our children and grandchildren will only be able to see this magnificent animal in zoos or in pictures," said Xavier.
The event today also marked a pre-launch of the "Save Our Malayan Tiger 2019-2020" campaign.
Over the past five years between 2013 and 2018, Xavier said more than 1,000 operations were carried out and 3,500 snares were destroyed.
"A total of 162 intruders, comprising 98 local citizens and 64 foreigner, were arrested for wildlife crime offences.
"However, during the same period, sad to say a total of 14 tigers were known to have been snared or killed," he said.
Stressing the government's commitment to combat the wildlife trade, Xavier later told reporters his ministry had secured assistance from the Home Ministry and the defence minister in its ongoing war against poachers.
"I have requested for 2,000 soldiers to be deployed in the three jungle areas, for us to make sure that poachers involved in illegal wildlife trade can be stopped," he stressed.
Xavier was previously quoted as saying that the ministry had considered enforcing a "shoot on sight" policy against poachers.
Quizzed on the matter today, he said it was his personal view given the gravity of the situation.
"I said I was considering a shoot on sight policy.
"But I don't think the government wants to take it up at present," he said, adding that the measure has been proven effective to increase the number of tigers in Nepal and Bangladesh.
