Partner Project: Tigers for Tomorrow

Executive Summary

2025 marked the launch of Tigers for Tomorrow, a landmark initiative to operationalise Southeast Asia's first tiger reserve and establish a new model for wild tiger conservation in Asia. Driven by a shared commitment to protecting the region's last remaining natural forests, the UAE has pledged US$22 million over five years to support the establishment and development of the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve in Pahang, Malaysia.

The initiative aims to preserve the critically endangered Malayan tiger while safeguarding the wider forest ecosystem and promoting sustainable coexistence between people and wildlife. Through scientific innovation, enhanced livelihoods, habitat protection, and capacity building for community-led conservation, the Reserve seeks to demonstrate how species recovery can contribute to broader landscape protection and sustainable development.

Spearheaded by the Crown Prince of Pahang, the Reserve has the potential to become a global benchmark for tiger conservation, demonstrating what can be achieved when government, philanthropy, conservation organisations and local communities work together towards a shared vision.

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZ Fund) serves as the principal donor and overall project management facilitator, working alongside a consortium of national and international partners. Enggang Management Services (EMS) leads on-ground operations and implementation, while the Pahang State Parks Corporation (PTNP) oversees local regulatory and administrative conservation actions. The Habitat Foundation (THF) supports communications, field surveys, master planning and conservation frameworks, while Panthera Malaysia leads anti-poaching patrols and species monitoring. Nature Based Solutions (NBS) and BORA contribute to habitat restoration and the protection of threatened wildlife.

Together, these partners are laying the foundations for a long-term, landscape-scale conservation programme that aims not only to recover the Malayan tiger, but to protect the forests, wildlife and communities that depend on them.

Detailed grant governance and oversight

To monitor project progress and ensure effective governance, a detailed structure was established to guide the grant. The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZ Fund) manages the project on behalf of Erth Zayed Philanthropy, while Enggang Management Services (EMS) supports the management and operation of the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve in Pahang, Malaysia.

Two working streams have been established to ensure the project remains on track:

Working Group: Provides technical input, supports project implementation and coordination, and develops recommendations on project strategy and direction.

Steering Committee: Provides strategic oversight, monitors the responsible use of grant funds, and ensures activities remain aligned with project objectives, donor requirements and applicable regulations.

The Working Group supports the Steering Committee by:

• Aligning grant activities with strategic objectives;
• Supporting effective use of grant funds;
• Monitoring compliance with donor and regulatory requirements;
• Identifying and addressing challenges and opportunities; and
• Promoting transparency, accountability and effective implementation.

The Steering Committee Working Group held its inaugural meeting in Malaysia in Q2 2025, establishing the foundation for ongoing coordination and collaboration between the MBZ Fund, EMS and PTNP.

This governance structure provides clear accountability across all partners and helps ensure the grant delivers its intended conservation outcomes.

Tiger and Prey Protection

Through continued refinement of patrol protocols and strategies, Panthera has strengthened efforts to reduce poaching and illegal hunting across the ASARTR landscape. The programme identified the need for three ranger operation bases to provide effective protection coverage and conducted 75 patrols, covering more than 8,000 km and 2,197 hours of active patrol time, with no active poaching incidents detected.

Threat assessments identified six high-risk threats, including two zoonotic threats, while camera-trap monitoring recorded more than 200,000 images and documented 45 mammal species, providing valuable data on the status of tigers and their prey. Eleven individual tigers were identified within the Reserve.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) was identified as a significant emerging threat to tigers and other predators. A detailed action plan has been developed, with plans to work with Malaysia's Department of Wildlife and National Parks, veterinary authorities and universities on a wider vaccination and sterilisation programme for domestic dogs and cats to reduce disease transmission.

Panthera has also developed recovery scenarios for tigers and their prey, outlining the actions and interventions required to strengthen populations and restore the ecological balance of the landscape.

Habitat and Prey Recovery

In 2025, work progressed to strengthen habitat and prey availability within the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve (ASARTR), laying important foundations for the recovery of the Malayan tiger.

A new pasture site was established in Phase II of the Reserve, an area where a small herd of gaur is known to occur. Although sightings remain rare, interviews with logging concession staff confirmed their presence. Mineral and salt licks, along with camera traps, were installed to support monitoring and assess wildlife use of the area.

To strengthen prey populations, EMS worked with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), Mandai and two local universities to develop a detailed action plan for prey breeding and soft release. PERHILITAN agreed in principle to provide several sambar deer for a breeding and release programme, with protocols developed for their husbandry and eventual release into the Reserve.

Other key achievements included:

• Pasture development: Established an additional pasture in Phase II, including clearing, planting, mineral licks and wildlife monitoring.
• Community nursery: Established a fig tree nursery in the nearby village of Mat Daling, with local training and community participation supporting a future buy-back programme.
• Prey recovery: Advanced plans to establish a sambar deer breeding population and develop protocols for soft and hard release into the wild.
• Reserve and buffer-zone management: Engaged with the Pahang Forestry Department on Phase II, including logging licences, boundary demarcation and illegal logging.
• High Conservation Value (HCV) areas: Began assessing western buffer zones where logging and conversion to oil palm plantations are increasing, highlighting the importance of protecting remaining habitat and strengthening the Reserve's boundaries.

These activities represent important early steps towards restoring the habitat, prey base and ecological conditions needed to support a viable tiger population within the Reserve.