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Citizen action for tigers : what’s in it for me?
Author
Chua, Valerie Hui Xuan
Supervisor
D'Rozario, Vilma
Abstract
The world witnessed a steep decline in tiger populations in the recent years, from a population of over a hundred thousand in the 19th century to fewer than 4000 today (Kawanishi, 2017). The tiger populations stood at less than 300 individuals due to the loss of natural habitat coupled with poaching (Kawanishi, 2017). The Citizen Action for Tigers (CAT) Walk was a program introduced by the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT). The CAT Walk engaged members of the public in the mission to protect wild tigers and restore wild tiger habitat. While there was evidence that the CAT Walk program helped to lower the incidence of snares and deter poachers, there appeared to be a gap in literature with respect to how engaging in the CAT Walk benefitted participants themselves. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring the impact of CAT Walk on participants. Twelve participants, who participated in at least one CAT Walk in 2015 and 2016, were interviewed for the study. Participants were aged between 20 and 61, were of diverse backgrounds, nationalities, professions, and had different levels of forest experience. Interviews were conducted with the purpose of understanding participants’ CAT Walk experience, the challenges they faced, and their takeaways. Findings showed that the CAT Walk program benefitted participants’ psychological well-being, generated positive emotions, a sense of achievement and satisfaction, as well as instilled a sense of purpose. Challenges experienced and interactions with fellow group members and guides also facilitated a process of self-understanding and personal growth. Participants reported a growth in confidence and the willingness to push boundaries to overcome future challenges. In addition, participants gained an understanding of conservation, recognized the importance of it, and were more motivated to engage in future conservation efforts.
Date Issued
2018
Call Number
BF204.6 Chu
Date Submitted
2018