UAE, Malaysia to establish Southeast Asia's first Malayan tiger reserve

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZF) and Malaysia's Enggang Management Services on Thursday signed an agreement to establish southeast Asia's first tiger reserve dedicated to protecting the critically endangered Malayan tiger and other rare species.

The agreement, signed during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, includes a $22 million grant from MBZF to Enggang Management Services over five years.

The funding will support the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve, located next to Taman Negara National Park and spanning 1,340 square kilometres, which will provide a conducive environment for conserving the critically endangered Malayan tiger and other threatened wildlife in Malaysia's wilderness.

The initiative forms part of global efforts to prevent the extinction of rare species, particularly the critically endangered Malayan tiger, as classified by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. With fewer than 150 Malayan tigers remaining in the wild, global tiger populations have declined by 97 per cent during the last century due to poaching and habitat loss.

Captive breeding, rewilding and translocation programmes will also be implemented, with the Rewilding Centre named in honour of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in recognition of the UAE's contributions to environmental conservation and the protection of endangered species.

Witnessing the signing, His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs, and Chairman of the International Humanitarian Affairs Council, highlighted the significance of the collaboration in preserving biodiversity, enhancing conservation efforts and stabilising ecosystems.

He added it reflects the UAE's ongoing commitment to sustainability, inspired by the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who laid the foundation for protecting the environment for future generations.

While the Malayan tiger will be the reserve's flagship species, the conservation measures will also benefit other rare, threatened and endangered animals, including wild cats, elephants, tapirs, sun bears, gaur and various bird species.