According to the Ministry of Forestry in Vietnam, the Indochinese tiger is found in 24 of the 87 established Nature Reserves and National Parks. Some reserves are quite large, and a comprehensive interview census is currently underway to establish tiger numbers. In 1994 the Cat Specialist Group reported an estimated 200-300 tigers were living in seven Nature Reserves. A 1995 presentation by Bao et al. suggested that no more than 200 tigers survived. Poaching is ongoing, and tiger skins, teeth, and bones can be readily purchased in major cities.
Officials admit that tiger populations are declining in Vietnam.
Malaysia Under the Protection of Wildlife Act, the Indochinese tiger in Malaysia has been designated a totally protected species since 1976. Most of these sites are quite small, and the resident tiger populations may be too small to be considered viable. The existing protected system area of Malaysia is over 1.1 million hectares, and another 2 million hectares could be considered tiger habitat. Unlike elsewhere in Asia, Malaysia has been very effective in reducing poaching. Malaysia is interested in establishing two transborder reserves with Thailand, where some 40 tigers are believed to occur.