Imagine a world with no tigers…
Photo via WWF Malaysia
According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Malaysia, our Malayan tigers have been classified as “Critically Endangered” under the IUCN Red List with less than 200 left in the wild today. It faces an extremely high chance of extinction in the wild.
How about we, together with WWF Malaysia, celebrate Earth Hour with a special focus on saving Malaysia’s iconic symbol, the critically endangered Malayan tiger?
From 13 to 29 March, let’s pledge to help save the Malayan tigers [link] while viewing the origami tiger exhibition at the Centre Court of Pavilion KL. There will be 1,000 origami tigers made from waste paper, symbolically representing the number of tigers which existed in our forests just a few decades ago.
...and of this, only 200 will be coloured, representing the number of tigers that remain.
Photo via WWF Malaysia
The population of tigers have declined by about 50% over the past ten years. Tiger conservation continues to face challenges across the country’s tropical forest landscape.
Poaching remains the greatest and most urgent threat to tigers in Malaysia, followed by loss of habitat and fragmentation of forests- Malaysia could stand to lose its iconic symbol to extinction in the next couple of years.
“By protecting tigers, we are protecting much more than just a species. We are safeguarding the quality of our own lives and the quality of the lives of future generations. As an apex predator, Malayan tigers keep populations of prey species in check, which in turn maintains the balance in the ecosystem. Their habitat is a natural forest, which humans rely on. As the effects of climate change are becoming more apparent, natural forests are our best bet to increase our resilience - they provide fresh water, clean air and regulate the climate to limit extreme weather patterns, such as droughts and storms.” said Ms. Sophia Lim, WWF-Malaysia Executive Director/CEO.
“With less than 200 Malayan tigers left, it really is now or never. As we countdown to Earth Hour, #Connect2Earth and raise your voice for nature by pledging to save our Malayan tigers at wwf.org.my/EarthHour,” she added.
Everyone can take part in this! You, too, can help save these beautiful animals from extinction.
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
