Emirati-Malaysian cooperation to protect endangered tigers in Malaysia

His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Prince Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, Regent of the Malaysian State of Pahang, and His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chief of the Presidential Office for Affairs, witnessed Development and the families of the martyrs, Chairman of the International Humanitarian Affairs Council, signing a cooperation agreement between the Mohammed bin Zayed Fund for the Preservation of Species and the Foundation Ingang Department of Protected Areas in Malaysia, to create the first tiger reserve in Southeast Asia, specializing in the protection of the endangered Malayan tiger and many other rare species.

Under this agreement, which was signed on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week activities, the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund will provide financial support worth 22 million US dollars to the Malaysian Foundation, over a period of five years, to provide support to the Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve near the National Park. Taman Negara National Park, with an area of ​​1,340 square kilometers, aims to enhance the reserve’s capabilities by providing a suitable environment for the preservation of the Malawi tiger and other endangered tigers in the region. Malaysian wildlife.

His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed the importance of this agreement in protecting biological diversity by enhancing cooperation and supporting efforts to preserve endangered species to ensure their stability within their natural ecosystems, indicating that this environmental cooperation is inspired by the legacy of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed. Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, “may God have mercy on him,” in sustainability, and his idea that laid the foundations for the approach to protecting and preserving the environment for future generations.

This initiative comes within the framework of international efforts to protect rare species from extinction, the most prominent of which is the Malayan tiger, which has been listed as a critically endangered species on the Red List issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as this type of tiger is considered extremely rare, and the number of tigers is estimated at This species still lives in the wild with only 150 tigers, at a time when the number of tigers has declined globally by 97% over the past century as a result of conditions resulting from poaching and loss of natural habitats.

Her Excellency Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO and Managing Director of the Mohammed bin Zayed Fund for Nature Conservation, said at the Presidential Office, on this occasion, that if tiger numbers continue to decline at this pace, experts expect that they will become completely extinct within just a few years. But there are many examples of success stories where timely intervention has led to the recovery of some endangered species, so the initiative to support the Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve is an essential step in securing the future of the Malawi tiger.

She added that this project will contribute to increasing the area of ​​​​the protected area for Malayan tigers, in addition to managing the habitat to ensure the animals’ ability to reproduce successfully in the wild, while the measures that will be taken will include patrolling to prevent poaching and other illegal activities.

Her Excellency stressed that the grant will also support taking measures aimed at the long-term survival of these species, as the project plan includes establishing a research facility in the reserve that focuses on advanced genetics applications and facilitating cooperation between scientists.

Animal breeding, resettlement and transfer programs will also be implemented through a resettlement center that will bear the name of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him”, in appreciation of the UAE’s efforts in supporting environmental initiatives and preserving endangered species.

Although the Malayan tiger will be the main species in the reserve, these measures will also benefit other rare animals: five other species of endangered wild cats, elephants, tapirs, sun bears, gaurs, and various types of birds.

For his part, Dato’ Seri Muthanna Abdullah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ingang Foundation for Protected Areas Management in Malaysia, stressed that the grant provided by the Fund in cooperation with the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation reflects the depth and strength of international cooperation in the field of environmental conservation, noting that the partnership with the UAE will increase The Foundation’s level of ambition is to continue efforts to protect the Malayan tiger and other rare species in the reserve.

He added that the results of this project will reflect the effectiveness of bilateral and international cooperation and be a source of inspiration for taking similar actions to conclude partnerships aimed at protecting other endangered species and preserving vulnerable habitats.