Cat Conservation
The single most, high-profiled and threatened wild cat in Malaysia is undoubtedly the Indo-Chinese tiger. From sheer habitat loss, coupled with a high demand from poachers and the chinese medicinal trade, the species is feared to be on the brink of extinction. It does not help that the range of these animals are increasingly overlapping with humans and it is unfortunate that sometimes, apart from livestock, someone is killed. With every human death, the morality of protecting a wild animal species becomes increasingly difficult to justify -- to the family of a tiger victim, the local authorities, the politician.
Nonetheless, some very noble conservation work is being carried out that could make a difference. For example, field studies by WWF Malaysia in northern Peninsular Malaysia who are working with local villagers to manage their livestock to reduce tiger attacks. Another is Kae Kawanishi, who spent many years working with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), to study tigers in the wild: their distribution, abundance and prey-densities. This body of work is being used to further strengthen the effectiveness of a major conservation area in Malaysia, Taman Negara. You can read a summary of this research here or check out the final thesis here.
Where to see wildcats
Wildcats can be found in almost all types of forests from the lowlands to montane forests. Some of the best "wildcat" experiences I have had have been from the Kinabatangan in Eastern Sabah (Malaysian Borneo). Here, by boat, I have spotted the Clouded Leopard and Flat Headed Cat, both as they come down to the river to drink. The latter is typical of swamps and rivers as they are largely fish-eaters. Most of the time though, encounters of wildcats are made by pure luck! Walk open trails or abandoned logging roads, or travel along the river to spot animals along the riverbank. Cats are active by night, so make sure you begin your search at night! Use a good handheld spotlight (powered by the car battery if you are exploring old logging roads) or with good torches or head-lamps.