Protect the Malayan Tiger and restore its habitat

Dear Tiger supporters and ambassadors, 

As we delve deeper into the year, our strength of resolve lies in the fabric we have woven into the community that reside between forests and field. A community where a unique culture walked the earth before time, and continues to carve its future by endeavour and spirit. Our Bateq allies possess an affinity for the jungle that is inimitable, a kinship born of respect and conversance. Their efforts in protecting wildlife and replenishing nature make us believe in a future full of wildlife that illuminate imagination. 

Our habitat restoration team led by Alexander Jack has been going from strength to strength, even through the pandemic, tirelessly planting seedlings and nuturing a new generation of giants. For Tigers, magnificent as they are rely on prey, and prey in turn rely on abundant vegetation that flourish in the tropical edens that once extended from shore to shore.

"Their reverence and respect inspired me to join in the fight to save the forest they see as an existential network, a realm where bonding of peoples and landscapes manifest" Alex says of his adopted Bateq clan.

The team restores forests and enriches habitat to ensure that wildlife have viable resource in peninsula Malaysia's most important wildlife corridor. In 3 years the team has succesfully raised 25,000 native seedlings, species spanning from strangling figs to emergent leviathans, from seed to sprout to fruit. All to provide valuable and needed resources for wildlife to recolonize the area. Threatened species have shown signs of recovery from past unchecked poaching activities, stemming from increased protection and presence.

The goal is simple, to re-wild the fractured landscape to provide a safe haven for flora and fauna. Our efforts in wildlife protection and habitat restoration cannot continue absent of the Bateq, and your continued support.

We are all stewards of this planet.

Dear Tiger Ambassadors and supporters, 

As we turn the page on 2020, we begin to see a turn in the tide of this pandemic, and perhaps, a revival to hope.

We have not be idle, and due to the contributions from you through GlobalGiving and the support of other generous funders, we have accelerated protection patrols by almost 500% and reforestation efforts by more than 300% from last year!

The surge in patrols have helped us monitor and report numerous signs of illegal baiting and poaching, forest clearing, and gold mining - all of which is detrimental to the endangered wildlife we strive to keep safe.

We are now working closer with the Forestry and Wildlife departments to expedite enforcement patrols and plan outreach programmes for the communities around the wildlife corridor.

Reforestation efforts are at full tilt, and with permanent presence within the corridor, we now have more eyes, ears and hands furthering our legitimate presence while boosting claim and ownership over this significant forest landscape.

Please help us continue our work by donating to GlobalGivings "Little by Little" campaign where all donatioup to 50 USD are matched 50% by GlobalGiving! This campaign runs next Monday for a week.

Thank you all humbly as we keep on fighting for the Malayan tiger!

Dear MYCAT supporters and tiger Ambassadors,

As we enter the final stretch of this unprecedented year, we are thrilled to announce that our ranger patrols will be increased in both frequency and areas covered due to funds raised from our partners, the Singapore Wildcat Action Group (SWAG) through GlobalGiving on their SWAG100 Challenge in October.

"Thank you very much for your support of the SWAG100 Challenge and donation to our fundraising campaign! In 31 days, we raised US$11,560 for the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT). The funds will help MYCAT strengthen its Community Ranger patrol program as well as the Rewilding Yu project, both of which will ensure that the iconic Malayan tiger is protected and given a chance to thrive". A message from SWAG directors Carmen Pang and Vilma D’Rozario.

With the funds raised, we have identified new rangers to be trained and deployed in the coming months to further strengthen our presence in this most vital of wildlife corridors in peninsular Malaysia.

To further sustain this increase for the longer term, we are actively seeking matching funds from other grants/sources and so would like to make an end of the year appeal of you to graciously contribute to Tiger protection.

GlobalGiving is launching its largest #GivingTuesday to date, with $1 million to give away to our community on December 1, 2020! The campaign is aligned with the Global Generosity Movement that is celebrated by nonprofits, corporations, and donors alike each year in December.

Please rally your family, friends, and wildlife allies to help MYCAT fight for a better brighter more secure future for Malayan Tigers. Or consider making an honorary holiday donation this year on behalf of your loved ones!

We are counting on you to do what you can and support our rangers in the field. Just recently, they came upon an illegal land clearance witin the buffer zone (protected forest) of the national park. We are now assisitng the forestry department in the matter.

Our collective efforts have also caught the eyes and ears of the Malaysian police chief – please view the facebook link below for more info.

When you can't do what you do
You do what you can
This ain't my prayer, it's just a thought
I'm wanting to send
'Round here, we bend but don't break
Down here, we all understand
When you can't do what you do
You do what you can

- Bon Jovi –

Links:

• MYCAT Facebook post - Malaysian Police Chief
• Click for more info on the Singapore Wildcat Action Group SWAG
• A short video of Bateq rangers patrolling and observing wildlife

Dear Tiger supporters and ambassadors,

As we collectively move through this period intrepidly, spare a moment and thought to all the brave souls who patrol in the name of wildlife and habitat protection. They fight not just on your behalf, but to also support their own families through this time of economic upheaval.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia are on the rise again, mirroring the situation in a host of countries, and there is worry that another Movement Control Order (MCO) will be announced by the government to stem the tide of rising infections. Unfortunately, during the MCO, all non-essential services - of which includes wildlife protection by NGO's - were suspended. It took almost 4 long months for our teams to begin patrolling the forests to protect wildlife and record illegal activities within and alongside the Yu River Ecological Corridor.

We began patrols with a new resolve in July 2020, bolstered by the funds received through GlobalGiving, and have almost doubled our patrols from pre-MCO months earlier in the year. With increased patrols, we expanded patrol coverage and have now included areas adjacent to a new logging concession to ensure that poaching, hunting and threats to wildlife are kept in check. Just last week, a patrol came upon an illegal mining operation along the Yu River. A report was sent to the Forestry Department, and the operation and camp was shut down that evening by the authorities. Another area of forest clearing was identified and with the Forestry Department, a new reforestation site will be initiated. The patrols have also located wire snares and animal traps which have been disarmed and removed, maintaining a safer corridor for wildlife to freely move through.

Please help us continue in being vigilant against wildlife crimes by contributing to our vital protection work, which is also critically supported by our forest enrichment and replanting project that help ensure future wildlife populations have a healthy ecosystem to roam safely in. You can choose to donate to either patrol or restore for as little as USD 15 to give the Malayan Tiger a fighting chance!