Protect the Malayan Tiger and restore its habitat

A renowned Japanese proverb wisely says, 'dust, if piled up, becomes a mountain' (chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru). This proverb serves as a poignant reminder that small actions today can yield significant results over time, provided there is unwavering conviction and the courage to persevere. 

During the years 2004-2010, I was deeply involved in shaping national policies, focusing on the crucial need to connect fragmented forests for the Malayan tiger. Then my research on wildlife in a fragmented forest from 2008 to 2010 laid the foundation for our ongoing tiger conservation efforts at the Sungai Yu Ecological Corridor. At that time, there were no signs of Tigers, Sambar deer, or Gaur in the most vulnerable corridor area. Threats to wildlife were alarmingly high, and their habitats were severely compromised.

It took five long years for us to begin noticing the return of endangered wildlife to the area, and over a decade to witness large mammal species crossing the eco-viaducts. The conservation of Tigers and wildlife is a patient endeavor, and nature follows its own pace of healing. Through close collaboration with local government authorities and communities, with invaluable support from dedicated volunteers and generous donors like you, we have successfully restored both the physical and functional connectivity within this 4,000-hectare corridor. Now, landscape engineers, seed dispersers, and apex predators thrive in the rejuvenating forest, protected from poaching and deforestation. 

Our monumental success, although significant to us, may be considered but a small particle of dust in the eyes of nature.

Therefore, we embark on a new, ambitious mission: to magnify our impact fivefold by safeguarding 20,000 hectares of the adjacent forest reserves and national park within the next THREE YEARS! This extended effort also includes the expansion of habitat restoration to 210 hectares. While this endeavor may seem formidable, we draw inspiration from our prior success, the unwavering support of our community, and nature's remarkable resilience. Will you join us on this journey?

We urge you to become an active partner in this challenge. Through the GlobalGiving platform, do continue to support us with your donations and tell your friends, family and communities about our mission and our efforts. Please feel free to contact us at cat@malayantiger.net for suggestions on how else you can contribute and help save the Malayan tiger. 

Remember, even with a small speck of dust, we can make a mountain together.

Kae Kawanishi
Executive Director, WILD

Links:

• Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers
• Find us on Instagram for the latest updates

Dear Friends,

I hope this report finds you with compassion in your heart and a desire to make a difference.

Committed to protecting endangered wildlife and their habitats, we embarked on a courageous journey in 2010 by engaging citizen conservationists from local and global communities. With your support, we have achieved remarkable progress over the years.

In 2015, after five years of dedicated protection efforts, we began witnessing the first signs of wildlife recovery, igniting our vision for reforestation. We established a small tree nursery and embarked on planting trees to revive a badly damaged land. This ambitious undertaking was made possible by the generosity of individuals and the steady commitment of local indigenous communities, who share our deep passion for preserving healthy ecosystems.

Encouraged by our progress, we secured funding in 2018 that allowed us to expand our reach and continue restoring larger areas. In 2021 a new corporate donor made a five-year pledge, promising much-desired stability and the means to pursue our vital mission of ecological restoration.

However, we now face an unprecedented challenge. An abrupt and premature termination of the pledged funding due to the donor’s own internal issues in February this year, has left our project personnel and expenses in a precarious lurch, one that threatens to undo much of the good we have accomplished.

In the past year, endangered wildlife has freely roamed across the landscape and the lives of local indigenous people whose livelihoods are intricately linked to the health of their environment have been transformed. Through our habitat restoration project, forty-four men and women have found a source of income and have experienced positive changes in their environment that have created a ripple effect of hope throughout their communities.

Even in the face of adversity, we have refused to give up. Since February, with the support of compassionate individuals like yourself, we have managed to care for 5,000 seedlings in our nursery and 6,000 trees that had been planted in the past few years across 160 hectares of restoration sites. A small team of workers monitor and tend these young trees, watering them during scorching heat and weeding after continuous rain, thus ensuring their growth and survival. Sadly, as a result of the funding withdrawal, we have had to downsize the nursery, release all but a few workers responsible for essential maintenance tasks and place the head of the project on unpaid leave.

I am immensely grateful for the generosity shown by those of you who have donated in the past year. Today, I come to you with an urgent appeal. Please continue to donate, no matter the amount, to help us sustain our mission. For the next six months we would require funds totaling RM120,000 (USD 26,000) for essential maintenance tasks. These funds will help us support the remaining workers, provide them with a modest income, and ensure the continued care and growth of the seedlings and saplings that represent our collective hope for a brighter future. It will enable me to re-strategize for the longer term while minimizing the suffering of these seeds of change for which I feel a deep sense of responsibility.

Your contribution will bring hope, restore livelihoods, and preserve the delicate balance of our precious ecosystems.

Thank you for your unwavering support, compassion, and dedication to protecting our fragile ecosystems and the magnificent tigers that call them home.

By Kae Kawanishi

Executive Director, WILD

Links:

• Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers
• Find us on Instagram for the latest updates
• Follow us on Facebook