Choong Siew Shean, deputy dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), said this research, conducted with final-year students, focuses on two main groups of tigers: those born and raised entirely in captivity, and those recently captured from the wild due to human-wildlife conflict.
“We observe clear behavioural differences between the two groups. Tigers born in captivity tend to be more docile and approachable, whereas those newly captured from the wild remain aggressive and easily stressed when encountering humans,” she told Bernama.
The study also examines the tigers’ biological cycles and natural behaviours during the mating period, to enhance natural reproduction without relying on assisted reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination.
“Natural breeding is preferable as it allows tigers to express their instincts. Tigers are solitary animals – if they are kept together for too long, they may become too familiar and lose interest in mating. We only bring them together when the timing is right,” Choong said.
She outlined that challenges in conservation efforts include habitat loss due to logging activity and infrastructure development, such as highways that fragment the animals’ natural range.
“Male tigers have larger territories that overlap with several female territories. As the forest gets smaller, the chances of meeting a partner grow slimmer. On top of that, poaching and wire snares remain serious threats,” she said.
Choong said although the tiger population in Malaysia was once thought to be the same as the Indochinese tiger, genetic studies have confirmed that the Malayan tiger is a distinct and critically endangered subspecies, making it a prime target for poachers due to its high value on the black market.
“Every part of the Malayan tiger’s body, from its head and teeth to its skin, fetches a high price,” she noted.
She also touched on UMK’s efforts to expand conservation initiatives through a project to breed sambar deer as a natural food source for tigers in the wild. Choong said these deer are crucial as they are one of the main prey species for tigers, and “when deer numbers decline, the entire food chain is affected”.
She said the outbreak of African swine fever, which reduced wild boar populations, further impacts the ecosystem, as wild boars are also a key food source for large predators.
“When the food chain at the lower level is disrupted, it cascades up the food chain. Tigers, as a keystone species, depend on the balance maintained at the lower levels of the ecosystem.”
On the topic of human-tiger conflict, Choong highlighted that tigers do not naturally attack humans unless they feel threatened or face a shortage of food sources.
“If a tiger attacks a human, it knows the consequences are serious. Normally, it avoids human contact unless there is a direct threat or a very close opportunity. The cases we hear of are rare… sometimes a tiger may attack but not eat its victim,” she said.
Choong said efforts to protect the Malayan tiger must go hand in hand with raising awareness about the importance of valuing and preserving natural resources.
“Starting with small actions, such as not wasting food and appreciating water resources, can help nurture a love for nature. When we learn to value these things at home, over time, we will also develop an affection for the forests and the animals that live within them.
“Everything is interconnected,” she concluded.