Tracks in a Tiger Economy

Director:  David Borish
Production Country: Canada
Production Year։ 2017
Duration։ 27 min

Synopsis

Malaysia has a decision to make: industrialization in the short-term or environmental preservation for the long-term. “Tracks in a Tiger Economy” looks at the challenges of protecting the endangered Malayan tiger in the wild, and demonstrates the vital connection between wildlife conservation and sustainable socio-economic development for this Southeast Asian nation. In particular, this film investigates the palm oil industry and its resulting effects of deforestation and habitat loss, and the high rates of tiger poaching that feed the illegal wildlife trade. An indigenous perspective is also considered, as the Orang Asli tribes of Peninsular Malaysia and their hunter-gathering lifestyles are under similar threats of habitat loss as the tiger. Protecting the Malayan tiger could be the answer to preserving the forest ecosystems, improving indigenous rights, and overall set Malaysia on a more sustainable path.