KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 — Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysian Zoological Society (MZS) at National Zoo in a bid to save the Malayan tiger.

DBKL was represented by Mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan while MZS, by its president Datuk Seri Zaharin Md Arif.

The MoU on Endangered Species Conservation Programme, "Selamatkan Si Belang”, effective today until 2022, covers the disbursement of contributions for food, care, treatment and management of the three Malayan tiger cubs, Melur, Wira and Hebat, born on May 1.

Nor Hisham said in his speech that through the MoU, DBKL had agreed to contribute RM40,365 a year for each cub for three consecutive years.

"The total cost for the three years is RM121,095...it is our corporate social responsibility to create public awareness on the conservation of the endangered Malayan tiger.

"DBKL’s role is not only to ensure success of the 2040 Kuala Lumpur Development Plan for the wellbeing of city dwellers but also to help conserve animals that are becoming extinct,” he said.

Plot study observations carried out through the first National Tiger Survey between 2016 and 2018 on nearly 75 per cent of tiger habitats found that there are only about 150 Malayan tigers in Peninsular Malaysia.

"If no drastic action is taken to address the declining number of the Malayan tiger population, the species would become extinct in five to 10 years,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Zoo Zoology and Veterinary director Dr Mat Naim Ramli said an adult tiger costs about RM120 per day or between RM3,000 and RM4,000 a month to maintain.

"The three tiger cubs are still dependent on their mother’s milk and consuming solid food with their mother depends on their health.

"Thus far, the health of the tigress and the three cubs is good. The mother weighs about 100kg while each of the cubs, about 12kg,” he said. — Bernama