Issues

Paddocks for safety

Conflict begins at the forest edges where tiger habitats have been converted to agriculture or livestock farming. When livestock is killed by tigers, farmers lose money, and tigers are viewed as pests. Some farmers retaliate by killing tigers that prey on their livestock. If a farmer shoots a tiger, but only manages to wound it, there can be serious consequences. An injured tiger has difficulty hunting wild prey and may resort to attacking humans.

Although totally protected by local and international law, poachers or farmers still hunt and kill tigers. While villagers generally acknowledge the importance of conserving tigers and other wildlife, it is understandable that this becomes secondary the moment their lives or livelihood are threatened.

Better management of farms and village surroundings can prevent incidences of wildlife venturing outside forests, so there’s less likelihood of conflict occurring. This will thus reduce tiger mortality rates or off-take of wildlife in the area.

However, it takes money to apply some of these better management practices. Building paddocks to protect cattle from tigers can cost up to RM7,000 each - a huge sum for many villagers. Electric fencing, which can prevent tigers, elephants, and even wild boars from entering plantations and orchards is even more expensive. Thus, it is important to address the financial aspect of conflict by developing a financing mechanism to assist the farmers in adopting better management practices.