Malaysians Unite to Freeze Tiger Trade

Through a series of well-choreographed steps, a tiger-themed flash mob called “Freeze Tiger Trade” spearheaded by WWF-Malaysia turned heads and attracted attention on the status of our Malayan tigers here in Kuala Lumpur.

People from all walks of life surprised patrons of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur by collapsing on the floor – representing wild tigers that have been hunted and traded – and freezing in that position for four minutes. The same group later took the crowd by surprise again with a second flash mob, this time a dance routine to a medley of four songs.

This first ever tiger-themed flash mob in the world was organised by WWF-Malaysia’s “Tx2: Double or Nothing!” campaign team as part of an awareness activity following World Tiger Day on July 29th.

WWF-Malaysia’s Executive Director/CEO, Dato’ Dr. Dionysius Sharma said:

As world leaders are preparing for the important Tiger Summit which will be held in Russia in September, this act of unity among Malaysians shows that they are supportive of the Malaysian government to declare at the Summit an end to all tiger trade by stepping up enforcement and habitat protection, thus helping to double tiger numbers by the next Year of the Tiger.

This is the first time that WWF-Malaysia utilised only new media in publicising an event and calling for participants, Dato’ Dr. Sharma added.

These groups of people that we have targeted to join and help promote “Freeze Tiger Trade” are the ones who most often utilise new media in their lives, and these are the groups that can help us reach out to more people on how all of us can help save the tiger.

With a boost from supporters that include Leo Burnett & Arc Asia Pacific, ChurpChurp, NuffNang, EcoKnights, Wild Asia, All Malaysia Bloggers Project, YouthAsia, Facebook group KL Flash Mob (dance), and venue partner Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, “Freeze Tiger Trade” was publicised mainly through blogs, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Taylor’s University College also supported “Freeze Tiger Trade” by promoting the event via their social media networks and hosting a mini-freeze and flash mob at their Lakeside Campus recently.

Rehearsals prior to “Freeze Tiger Trade” were conducted twice each week and consisted of dance and freeze practices, along with a presentation on Malaysia’s tiger conservation efforts that heavily promoted the Wildlife Crime Hotline (019 356 4194) to be programmed in participants’ mobile phones.

Freeze Tiger Trade was part of WWF’s Tx2 tiger conservation campaign that was launched in February 2010 with the aim of doubling the number of wild tigers in Malaysia, and the world, by the next Year of Tiger (2022). For more information about the Tx2 Campaign and to voice your support of tiger conservation efforts, register at www.tx2.my