CAPT’s CATwalk Trip
11 May 2018 - 13 May 2018
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Article written by Tham Hui Hui
A team of nine CAPTains participated in Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT)’s CATwalk programme from 11 to 13 May. MYCAT’s CATwalk programme provided an avenue for participants to do their part for tiger conservation by trekking in the rainforests of Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. These pristine rainforests are the last bastions of Malaysia’s diverse wildlife, and very different from the oil palm plantation landscape encountered in the south.
While MYCAT focuses on the conservation of tigers, we learnt that the conservation of tigers is not just about tigers – tigers require a lot of space (large home range), thus, the conservation of tigers and habitat protects the habitats of many other wildlife as well!
During the trip, we trekked along Sungei Yu corridor guided by Man, our MYCAT facilitator and two orang asli guides. The Sungei Yu corridor cuts through Taman Negara and a forest reserve and is separated by three viaducts along the highway. By walking on the trail, we increase human traffic into the forest, thus playing a role in deterring poaching in the forests. All around us were evidence of the wildlife that live in the forest, from elephant and leopard cat droppings, sun bear claw marks, and foot prints of mousedeer, elephants, and wild boar! We also had the opportunity to set up a camera trap to support research and documentation of wildlife in the area. Last but not least, we helped out with reforesting under the viaducts so as to provide a safe space for animals to cross between the two 
forests safely.
The team also visited an abandoned illegal mining site. The seemingly huge site was considered small-scale, and it really hit us how the activities affect the rivers and the area surrounding it.
The issue is complex but the passion of the MYCAT team in the work that they do really inspired us. In all, the trip was an enriching experience for us. Besides many virgin experiences such as crossing a river, we also learnt to be more observant to the nature around us.