Malayan Tiger and Petronas Twin Towers

Malayan Tiger  : Critically Endangered

Petronas Twin Towers : 451.9m, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia     

 

 

 

Malayan Tiger and Petronas Twin Towers_76x57cm_watercolor on paper_2014

 

 

The population of the wild Malayan tiger in the southern and central parts of the Malay Peninsula is estimated at about 500 individuals. The tiger is a national animal of Malaysia and one of the elements of the national emblem and of the emblems of the national police and many other organizations in Malaysia. The National Soccer Team of Malaysia is popularly known as the Tigers, and the tiger is a Malaysian symbol of courage and strength. Sadly, there is a huge, thriving domestic black market for every part of the wild Malayan tiger – fur, meat, and bones. The tiger skin is a status symbol, and the tiger meat and bones are highly sought after as a medicinal ingredient. As more and more of the tiger’s natural habitats are converted to farmland, the tiger is increasingly preying on domestic livestock. Whenever a tiger kills livestock, the local authorities or angry residents hunt it down and traffic its body parts. Poaching and trafficking in the tiger have long been done, and if these practices are not eradicated, the Malayan tiger will soon become extinct.