Rimau has empowered the Orang Asli in its effort to save the Malayan tiger
HULU PERAK: What will it say about us as Malaysians if we lose the animal that sits upon our national crest?
This question by Rimau president Lara Ariffin serves as an urgent call to action in the campaign to protect the critically-endangered Malayan tiger.
With an alarming survey indicating fewer than 150 tigers remaining in the wild, RIMAU – the Tiger Protection Society of Malaysia established in 2018 – has taken on the formidable challenge of not only reversing this decline but also igniting a national movement to save this iconic species.
Lara’s vision extends beyond conservation and into fostering a national consciousness around the Malayan tiger’s plight.
She passionately argued for a “whole of nation approach”, emphasising that it cannot just rest on the shoulders of the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) or the Forestry Department, but requires a comprehensive and collective effort.
“We need all the government departments to work together. We need all the NGOs to come together.
For a noble cause: Lara (second from left) and Harun (third from left) work hand in hand to empower the Orang Asli in the Royal Belum-Temenggor forest complex in guarding their ancestral lands against poachers.
“If we see this as a territorial endeavour, I think we will fail.
“We’ve already lost the Sumatran rhino and the leatherback turtle. The Malayan tiger is next on the list.
“We need to put all our efforts into making sure they have a future here in our rainforests,” said the filmmaker who has produced numerous documentaries highlighting the plight of Malaysian wildlife.
RIMAU’s unique approach involves empowering the Orang Asli, the indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia.
At the heart of this is transforming young Orang Asli into skilled patrollers and guardians of their ancestral forests.
These patrollers, equipped with technology like Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and satellite phones, can help detect and deter illegal poachers who threaten the Malayan tiger.
Project team lead Harun Rahman played a pivotal role in this initiative, having supervised operations across three critical landscapes – Royal Belum, Amanjaya and Korbu, all in Perak.
Guardians of the land: The Orang Asli community in Amanjaya, Hulu Perak, patrolling their ancestral land against illegal poachers threatening the existence of the Malayan tiger in the landscape.
His responsibilities include setting overall policy and working closely with coordinators who liaise with patrollers on the ground.
Harun will meticulously plan, train and equip the patrollers with a set of protocols, enabling them to systematically document animal tracks and human signs.
“I train the boys (the Orang Asli) in protocols where they actually observe and record it properly so that it can be used in the nationwide smart database.
“We also do what we call wildlife monitoring where we set up camera traps,” said Harun, who is Lara’s husband.
He said camera traps were also set up and left there for months to determine the condition of the forest and the condition of the animals in the wild.
“As you know, it’s quite difficult to see wild animals in the forest in Malaysia.
“The camera traps help us to see whether the population of tiger prey is problematic or if we see a tiger is in trouble, we will alert the authorities to take the necessary action,” he added.
Stronger together: The Orang Asli community patrollers taking a break. They typically spend weeks in the jungle to collect data important for tiger conservation.
When signs of injury or distress are detected, Harun and his team will also alert the authorities and nearby Orang Asli villages to ensure swift and coordinated responses to protect both the tigers and the human communities living in the surrounding areas.
One of the significant barriers Harun faced was bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and technological literacy among the Orang Asli patrollers.
Many patrollers initially struggled with basic literacy and the use of advanced technology.
He acknowledged this was a challenge, but commended the unwavering dedication of the Orang Asli, who have shown remarkable perseverance in mastering new skills.
“For somebody who can’t read and write, that’s a mountain to climb,” he said.
One of the young patrollers, 24-year-old Kivin Dali from the Semai tribe, said: “I want to guard the forest and see the wildlife thrive.
“I hope many more people can join us so that our children can guard the jungle.”
This involvement of the community sets RIMAU apart from other NGOs with similar causes.
“Basically, for every day the patroller works, RM10 is put into a community fund where the benefits can be shared with the whole community.
“Whether it is for education, health or an emergency, if they need money urgently, we will assist them,” Lara said.
She added that their work went beyond just patrolling and guarding the jungle as it also encapsulated the needs of the community.
“In Royal Belum, for example, after conversations with our rangers, I asked them what else we could help them with.
“One of the things they wanted was education. We also have an education component in the works where we are training local girls to become teachers,” she said.
Winning the Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA) has amplified RIMAU’s message, said Lara, providing a platform for them to reach a wider audience.
“Every little bit matters,” she said, urging Malaysians to contribute in any way they can to the conservation of the nation’s pride – the Malayan tiger.
For its noble efforts, RIMAU was named as one of the 10 winners of the SGHA 2024.
SGHA is an annual award by The Star that honours everyday, unsung Malaysian heroes.
For more details, visit sgha.com.my.
