Kuala Lumpur: The population of the Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) in Malaysia is showing positive growth, according to Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. Despite this encouraging trend, the exact number of these tigers will only be confirmed once the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) releases the official figures.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the last census indicated that there were fewer than 150 Malayan tigers. Minister Nik Nazmi shared that they are currently awaiting the official count, but initial field data suggests a positive trend. He made these remarks during the monthly assembly of the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM).

Nik Nazmi explained that this progress can be attributed to stricter enforcement efforts and an increased presence of community rangers. However, he cautioned that the Malayan tiger remains critically endangered and requires ongoing protection measures. On November 12 last year, he reaffirmed NRES’s commitment to protecting and conserving the Malayan tiger to prevent the extinction of this iconic species, which also adorns Malaysia’s coat of arms.