Rewilding a wildlife corridor

The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) took part in the launch of Rewilding Yu, a project related to a years-long fight to protect the Sungai Yu Tiger Corridor bisected by a major highway in the state of Pahang. The highway separates two main forests which form the habitat of the Malayan tiger, plus other large mammals and other wildlife, and the eco-viaduct is hoped to help keep the animals safe when crossing from one forest to the other.
     Having successfully lobbied for the viaduct, which runs under an elevated section of the highway, the plan now is to reforest the area, which will encourage wildlife to utilise the crossing. The initiative by MYCAT, an alliance comprising MNS, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, WWF-Malaysia and Wildlife Conservation Society-Malaysia Programme, was launched on 29 July 2016, which is also Global Tiger Day, and officiated at by YAM Tengku Aishah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

YAM Tengku Puteri Seri Kemala Pahang Tengku Aishah Sultan Ahmad Shah (middle) at the launch of Rewilding Yu

     Parked under the four-lane highway on a hot afternoon, the launch saw a gathering of guests made up of representatives of the alliance members; initiative supporters, including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), Department of Wildlife and National Park Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan), Forestry Department, Public Works Department, Lipis District Council; the state assembly representative; and members of the local community.

Tengku Aishah officiating the event, alongside Dato’ Khairiah Mohd Shariff, Director Perhilitan Pahang; Dato’ Sr. Dr. Azimuddin Bahari, Deputy Secretary General II (Environment Management), NRE; and Dr. Kae Kawanishi, GM of MYCAT

In her speech, Dr. Kae Kawanishi called on all Malaysians to protect Mother Nature and all her animals. Highlighting the dwindling number of Malayan tigers, she said Rewilding Yu complemented MYCAT’s other initiative, Citizen Action for Tigers (CAT) Walk, in which volunteers patrolled tiger areas to remove snares and discourage poaching. Rewilding Yu’s target by 2020 is to plant half a million trees in the Tiger Corridor.
     Officiating the event, Tengku Aishah reiterated the need to protect Pahang’s forests, which were the largest remaining habitat able to support the Malayan tiger and other large mammals. Representing the Regent of Pahang, who was unable to attend owing to prior commitments, the Princess then sportingly wielded a shovel to ceremoniously plant the first trees in the Sungai Yu Tiger Corridor, and even took time to pose with mascots TJ the Tiger and Rus the Sambar.

Tengku Aishah also took the time to pose with TJ the Tiger as well as visit displays set up by Perhilitan and MyCat.

     Dozens of saplings, a mix of ferns, banana trees and palms, provided by MNS, were also planted by attendees, including MNS President Henry Goh and interns currently serving at the society from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Universiti Malaya.
    The eco viaduct is situated in the vicinity of the Sungai Yu recreational area, where the actual river that runs through the Tiger Corridor. The major highway has replaced the original road from Kuala Lipis to Merapoh.

MNS President Henry Goh, MNS Head of Conservation Balu Perumal, the Society's interns and Mamat the Tapir leaving their mark at Sungai Yu

TJ, Mamat is not for noms! TJ the Tiger and Mamat the Tapir ham it up to bring attention to the plight of the country's large mammals. The forests of Pahang are the last bastion of these creatures, which are increasingly endangered. Right: Mamat helping to plant a tree.

The eco viaduct, under an elevated section of the new highway from Kuala Lipis to Merapoh, is situated in the vicinity of Sungai Yu and connects the forest areas in the Main Range and Taman Negara Pahang