Along the rivers of the Belum-Temenggor Forest Complex in Perak, Malaysia, sightings of wildlife such as elephants, hornbills, and the elusive Malayan tiger draw eco-tourists seeking to experience the region's rich biodiversity. However, for the indigenous Orang Asli communities residing along these waterways, the presence of large mammals and predators presents significant challenges to daily life.

Recently, a tiger ventured into Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Tiang, a Jahai tribe settlement comprising 120 households deep within the rainforest. The village, reachable only by a 45 to 60-minute boat trip from Pulau Banding Jetty in Gerik, is one of the largest Orang Asli settlements in the area. Along with tigers, elephants frequently encroach on the villagers’ small farms, damaging crops such as durian, coconut, and tapioca, often during nighttime hours.

Azhar Ruah, deputy chairman of the village cooperative, which coordinates socio-economic and infrastructure projects, said residents must remain vigilant at night to warn the community of elephant incursions. “We are not equipped to handle this; we have been using loud hailers just to scare them away,” he explained. Likewise, boatman and local resident Abie Keneban noted that increasing wildlife activity is restricting traditional livelihoods. “Besides farming, some depend on fishing, while others still search for agarwood, though supply has diminished,” he said.

In response to these challenges, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia has partnered with local authorities and the communities to develop mitigation strategies. WWF’s community engagement assistant manager, Umi A’zuhrah Abd Rahman, outlined plans to install fences and sirens at key points to provide early warnings and deter wild animals from encroaching on villages. The initiative targets Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Tiang and Kampung Sungai Chiong, involving feedback from 160 households surveyed between July and December of the previous year.

The project has received support from the Perak State Parks Corporation (PSPC) and the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), which will contribute technical expertise. WWF Malaysia is providing initial funding, with implementation expected to commence in the coming months, beginning in Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Tiang. Twenty to 30 villagers have been identified as volunteers to monitor the system post-installation, while headlamps and safety vests have been supplied as interim assistance.

To supplement income as traditional forest foraging becomes less viable due to human-wildlife tensions, local leaders and agencies are promoting community-led ecotourism initiatives. These efforts leverage the area’s biodiversity and wildlife appeal. A notable example is the “Akek Chep” program—meaning “don’t catch” in the Jahai language—a partnership between PSPC and Tenaga Nasional Bhd that focuses on freshwater conservation by protecting native fish species.

One attraction under this initiative is the Kelah Sanctuary, a designated picnic site where visitors can observe wild mahseer, a native freshwater fish. Located within a strictly protected red conservation zone, fishing and catching of wildlife in the sanctuary are prohibited. Nordin Asu, a boatman from Gerik, explained that the forest surrounding Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Tiang has been divided into four zones—blue, green, red, and yellow—each governed by specific rules regulating farming, fishing, and harvesting activities.

According to Nordin, the red zone is off-limits, the yellow zone allows harvesting once per year, the green zone permits collection of forest vegetables, and the blue zone is open for fishing. Markers have been placed throughout the forest to identify these boundaries, helping guide both villagers and visitors in sustainable resource use while minimizing conflicts with wildlife.