PROTECTING MALAYSIA’S
FAUNA HERITAGE
Malaysia’s Fauna
Safeguarding Malaysia’s Animals
Malaysia is a world-renowned “megadiverse” nation, providing a home to an incredible array of wildlife. Our land and seas support over 300 species of mammals, 780 species of birds, and more than 150,000 types of invertebrates. From the iconic Malayan Tiger roaming our rainforests to the vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life, this diversity is a vital part of our national heritage.
Our wildlife faces urgent threats that are silencing the sounds of our forests. Illegal poaching, habitat loss from land clearing, and human-wildlife conflicts have pushed many species to the brink. For example, fewer than 150 Malayan Tigers now remain in the wild, a stark reminder that our national icons could soon vanish.
State of Nature Conservation in Malaysia 2025 – Fauna
Malaysia’s terrestrial and marine environments support a remarkable diversity of wildlife, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods. These species occupy ecosystems ranging from tropical rainforests and mangroves to mountain landscapes, rivers, and coastal waters.
Fauna play essential roles in maintaining ecosystem balance and resilience. Through processes such as pollination, seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and population regulation, wildlife underpins healthy environments and the services they provide to society. The persistence of fauna is therefore inseparable from the health of the ecosystems they inhabit.
Yet Malaysia’s wildlife is under growing pressure. Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation continue to reduce food availability and viable habitat, weakening wildlife populations and increasing human–wildlife conflict. Emerging threats, including zoonotic diseases such as African Swine Fever, are disrupting predator–prey dynamics and further destabilising ecosystems. These pressures are compounded by climate change, altered weather patterns, and increasing levels of pollution.
The assorted fauna found in Malaysia – Hornbills of the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex; Migratory waterbirds along the Selangor coastline.
The assorted fauna found in Malaysia – an Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus); and a pair of Smooth-coated Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata).
A Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) in flight
Sunda Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang).
Purpose of the Fauna Theme
The Fauna Theme of the State of Nature Conservation in Malaysia 2025 assesses the status of wildlife and their habitats, identifies key threats, and informs effective conservation action. It aims to:
Provide an overview of Malaysia’s faunal biodiversity across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems
Highlight keystone species as indicators of ecosystem health and function
Examine emerging issues, including human–wildlife conflict, invasive alien species, zoonotic diseases, and wildlife trafficking
Assess the effectiveness of existing legal and governance frameworks
Recommend evidence-based strategies to strengthen wildlife conservation and ecosystem resilience
State of Nature Conservation
in Malaysia 2025 – Flora
Malaysia is home to exceptional plant diversity, with around 15,000 vascular plants and over 4,000 fungi species. This richness is supported by diverse habitats, including dipterocarp forests, wetlands such as peat and mangrove swamps, heath forests, limestone karsts, and highly endemic montane forests across East and West Malaysia.
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