Panthera tigris jacksoni population crash and impending extinction due to environmental perturbation and human-wildlife conflict

Ten, Dennis Choon Yung and Jani, Rohana and Hashim, Noor Hashida and Saaban, Salman and Abu Hashim, Abdul Kadir and Abdullah, Mohd Tajuddin (2021) Panthera tigris jacksoni population crash and impending extinction due to environmental perturbation and human-wildlife conflict. Animals, 11 (4). ISSN 2076-2615, DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041032.

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Abstract

Simple Summary The Malayan tiger, with less than 200 individuals in Malaysia, is in an intermediate population crash. Anthropogenic disturbances (poaching, roadkill, and human-tiger conflict), environmental perturbation (decreasing habitat quality), and infectious diseases have been identified as factors leading to impending extinction. Preliminary findings from stakeholders indicate Peninsular Malaysia has an existing Malayan Tiger conservation management programme. However, to enhance the protection and conservation of the Malayan Tiger, the authority should re-assess the existing legislation, regulation, and management plan, and realign them to prevent population decline. The critically endangered Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni), with an estimated population of less than 200 individuals left in isolated rainforest habitats in Malaysia, is in an intermediate population crash leading to extinction in the next decade. The population has decreased significantly by illegal poaching, environmental perturbation, roadkill, and being captured during human-wildlife conflicts. Forty-five or more individuals were extracted from the wild (four animals captured due to conflict, one death due to canine distemper, one roadkilled, and 39 poached) in the 12 years between 2008-2019. The Malayan tigers are the first wildlife species to test positive for COVID-19 and are subject to the Canine Distemper Virus. These anthropogenic disturbances (poaching and human-tiger conflict) and environmental perturbation (decreasing habitat coverage and quality) have long been identified as impending extinction factors. Roadkill and infectious diseases have emerged recently as new confounding factors threatening Malayan tiger extinction in the near future. Peninsular Malaysia has an existing Malayan tiger conservation management plan; however, to enhance the protection and conservation of Malayan tigers from potential extinction, the authority should reassess the existing legislation, regulation, and management plan and realign them to prevent further population decline, and to better enable preparedness and readiness for the ongoing pandemic and future threats.

Item Type: Article
Funders: Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSA) Malaysia through Giant Panda Research Consortium Malaysia [KPGPM/UMT/53161]
Uncontrolled Keywords: Wildlife management; Wildlife strategies; Anthropogenic disturbances; Environmental perturbation; Infectious diseases
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Institute of Biological Sciences
Depositing User: Ms Zaharah Ramly
Date Deposited: 08 Aug 2022 04:14
Last Modified: 08 Aug 2022 04:14
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/28426

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