Kota iskandar: The State Government of Johor has announced a significant initiative to designate the Endau-Rompin National Park in Mersing as an official tiger protection zone. This initiative will be achieved through obtaining the international Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS) certification. The move is part of the Johor Budget 2026, which allocates RM225,000 specifically for the management of tiger habitats within the park.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the State Health and Environment Committee chairman, Ling Tian Soon, emphasized the importance of this initiative. It comes as a response to a poaching incident involving a female striped tiger in Mersing last September. The initiative aims to preserve the tiger population and raise public awareness about nature conservation.

"This is one of the specific initiatives for the Johor National Park to further strengthen wildlife protection efforts and provide an opportunity for the state government to encourage the community to work together to protect the environment," Ling stated. He highlighted the government's efforts to obtain CA|TS certification to recognize the park as a tiger wildlife protection area, strengthening the protection of big cats in the region.

During the Johor 2026 Budget presentation, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the RM225,000 allocation for the initiative. The Johor Endau-Rompin National Park, established in 1993 and covering 48,905 hectares, is the largest protected area in southern Peninsular Malaysia. It is home to various wildlife, including the Malayan tiger, Malayan tapir, and Asian elephant.