Malayan tigers are a bit smaller and darker than Bengal tigers and they have shorter and narrower stripes. Males average 9 feet from head to tail and weigh about 400 pounds. Females measure about 8 feet in length and weigh approximately 250 pounds. Like all tigers, they are endangered. They have been relentlessly hunted for their body parts, which are believed to have either medicinal value or supernatural power to ward off evil.
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Until recently it was thought these tigers were the same Indochinese tiger subspecies as those found in Thailand, southern China, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. Tigers found on the Malayan peninsula were called Indochinese tigers more often than they were called Malayan tigers, and a single scientific name, panthera tigris corbetti, applied to all. In late 2004 genetic studies found that tigers on the Malayan peninsula were a separate and distinct subspecies from the Indochinese tiger. Because of this the only correct common name is now "Malayan tiger", and the scientific name has officially changed to panthera tigris jacksoni to both distinguish the subspecies and recognize the work of tiger conservationist Peter Jackson.
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There are about 500 Malayan tigers in the nature reserves and national parks of Malaysia. One hundred years ago there was a total of over 100,000 wild tigers in the world. Today 3 subspecies have become extinct and there are only 6 tiger subspecies left with fewer than 7,000 wild tigers in the world.