Recently, there has been an increase in tiger sightings around Malaysia’s highways in the states of Perak, Kelantan, and as far south as Johor.
Earlier this month, two fatal tiger attacks occurred within 24 hours along the JRTB Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway.
The first incident involved a local man named Adnan Ismail, 54, who was attacked early in the morning while coming down from a workers’ quarters near a forested area.
Not long after, a second attack left a Myanmar national dead at a nearby chili farm. The two locations were just four kilometers apart, leading officials to believe the same tiger may be responsible for both tragedies.
Most recently, a tiger was recorded on video prowling the side of the highway connecting Kahang and Jemaluang, in Johor.
The recent tiger sightings and attacks have raised concerns among Malaysians. So, what’s really going on with Malaysia’s tiger population, and how dangerous are these wild animals?
There are less than 150 tigers left in Malaysia.
Tigers, as beautiful as they are dangerous, are native to Malaysia but are becoming increasingly rare due to habitat loss and poaching.
Despite being the national animal and symbolising the national football team, the Malayan tiger subspecies face a dwindling population, with fewer than 200 believed to remain in the jungles of Peninsular Malaysia.
However, their dwindling population doesn’t mean they’re any less lethal. Tigers are powerful predators, with immense strength and sharp instincts for survival. A single swipe of a tiger’s paw or a bite from its powerful jaws is often enough to kill a human.
Tiger attacks have increased since 2022.
A family of tigers use a watering hole during the dry season. Image via thailand department of national parks, wildlife and plant conservation/wcs thailand
Between 2017 and 2022, Malaysia recorded only four tiger attacks, two of which were fatal. This is a small number, indicating that tiger attacks are rare in Semenanjung.
Then, last year in 2023, there were 4 tiger attacks that all happened in Kelantan. Interestingly, these attacks all occurred in the same period, during the wetter and cooler months of October and November.
Now in 2024, two more attacks have struck fear into the hearts of Malaysians. But in reality, the average Malaysian is 4000 times more likely to be killed in a road accident, as there are an average of 8000 deaths each year from collisions.
Perhilitan set up traps to capture the tiger responsible.
After these tragic events, The Perak and Kelantan Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), which handles wildlife conservation in Malaysia, set up traps in hopes of capturing the tiger responsible.
Perhilitan Director Yusoff Shariff reported that they had laid one trap near the scene of the first incident and another shortly afterward in a nearby area. The goal is to safely contain the animal and move it to an area where it won’t pose a threat to people.
Yusoff Shariff stressed that humans must also play a role in avoiding unnecessary confrontations with these wild creatures.
“We also want to advise users of the JRTB Gerik-Jeli (Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway) route, for safety reasons, not to stop along the roadside,” he said.
Mycat volunteers installing camera traps. Image via mycat
As a wide-ranging and territorial species, tigers need extensive connected networks of safe forests that enable them to move across landscapes to maximise their genetic diversity and adaptability to climate change and other disturbances.
So, what makes these wild tigers suddenly come into contact with humans? One factor is the encroachment of human activities into tiger habitats. As people expand farms, homes, and roads closer to forested areas, tigers are sometimes forced to roam outside their usual territories to hunt.
When these conditions arise, the risk of encountering a tiger becomes a serious concern for people living or working near forests.
What to do if you spot a tiger in the wild
A camera trap image of a tiger with a muntjac deer. Image courtesy of the thailand department of national parks, wildlife and plant conservation/wcs thailand.
Perhilitan emphasises the importance of not provoking wildlife. If you see a tiger or suspect one is nearby, remaining calm and keeping your distance is crucial.
In situations like these, Perhilitan urges people to contact them through their hotline at 1-800-88-5151 or via the e-complaint section on their website, www.wildlife.gov.my. Every sighting, no matter how brief, helps officials track tiger movements and, ideally, prevent tragic incidents.
By staying informed, respecting wildlife, and maintaining safe practices, we can hopefully prevent more of these unfortunate encounters from occurring.
Ultimately, the wild belongs to the tigers, and while their population dwindles, their presence is a reminder of Malaysia’s rich biodiversity—and a stark reminder that these creatures are powerful, instinct-driven animals, deserving of respect and caution.
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