The eco-volunteers travel to Jeli, in northern Malaysia, where they discover a community in fear of its life. Many of the last few Malayan tigers live in the nearby jungle - but the jungle is being lost to increasing development. Now the tiger and human populations are being forced to live side by side - and no one is coming out the winner. Our team gets to work building a tiger-proof paddock for livestock and snare tigers the safe way - using camera traps. But as the challenge nears it's end, exhaustion and homesickness take their toll. As friendships unravel, Dawn in particular has reached the end of the line. The team thinks things can't get any worse - but a trip to see some captured tigers proves them wrong.
Malayan Tigers fast facts
There are only an estimated 500 wild Malayan tigers left on Peninsula Malaysia.
Three other sub-species of tiger are already extinct
Conflicts between humans and animals, including tigers, are a serious problem in many parts of the world.
As wildlife is squeezed into ever smaller areas, with their natural food sources depleted, they are forced to turn to crops or livestock. The animals that attack people and villages are often killed, captured or harmed in retaliation. These conflicts, and habitat loss, are two of the main threats to the continued survival of many species, and a major problem for many impoverished communities around the world.
In 2002-2005, five people were killed in Jeli and there were 30 cattle killed.
Solving these conflicts, and securing an environment in which people can live in harmony with wildlife, is critical for the long term survival of tigers and the security and economic well-being of the communities living alongside them.
Ahmad Zafir Abdul Wahab - Programme Officer Tiger Conservation Programme, WWF Malaysia
Ahmad arrived at working in tiger conservation in a rather unconventional way – through studying marine biology! Nonetheless, as a marine biologist, he has a love of forests (and tigers) and after marine biology completed a masters degree in environmental management. On a day to day basis Ahmad works with local communities, government agencies and other interested parties to try to solve human/tiger conflict issues. He feels incredibly lucky that his job is also what he loves doing the most – trying to conserve the Malayan tiger.
Ahmad says one of the key challenges of his job is trying to explain to people the complexities of conservation and the many different reasons, and hence solutions, behind human/tiger conflict. Ahmad loved the experience of participating in an episode of Planet Action, especially in explaining the issues involved in human/tiger conflict mitigation to the team.
Mark Rayan Darmaraj - Field Biologist Tiger Conservation Programme, WWF Malaysia
Mark has a BSc. in environmental science and is currently completing an MSc in wildlife management. All this whilst he’s still doing his day job – designing and carrying out field monitoring studies focusing on biodiversity and, right now, particularly tigers. Mark says the most enjoyable thing about his work is that he gets to do what he loves – field biology – whilst at the same time contributing towards the conservation of the magnificent Malayan tiger. On the downside Mark says it’s frustrating that results are never immediate. Conservation efforts take time to show effects and research is just one component in a comprehensive conservation plan. Just as important are increasing awareness, lobbying for protected areas and implementing better management practices.
Mark says all of these things are hugely time consuming and can be frustrating but are critical elements of the job. Mark believes that in order to draw up effective conservation strategies for tigers it’s important to understand the animal in its natural environment and he hopes to be able to achieve this through his research. On Planet Action Mark says it was tough being on camera for the first time but as he got used to it he became more relaxed and was able to enjoy the filming. The best aspect of being involved in the series was the opportunity to spread a conservation message as well as highlight the challenges faced by conservation workers in the field.
Project update
Mark and Ahmad are still undertaking their camera trapping work to build up an accurate picture of the range of various tigers. The “tiger proof paddock” was later finished by local villagers. In January, Mark and Ahmad received a report that a tiger had entered the outskirts of the farm but because the cattle were protected in the “tiger proof” structure no cattle were killed.
