Article

Millawati Gani, PhD student at the Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (43600, Malaysia, Selangor, Bangi); Research officer of the National Wildlife Forensic Laboratory, Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) Peninsular Malaysia (56100, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Km. 10 Jalan Cheras); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9508-7481; e-mail: gmillawati@gmail.com
Badrul M. Md-Zain, PhD, Professor of the Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (43600, Malaysia, Selangor, Bangi); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4037-8115; e-mail:abgbadd1966@yahoo.com

Gani M., Md-Zain B.M. 2025. trnL metabarcoding analysis reveals the plant dietary composition of the Endangered Panthera tigris jacksoni (Felidae) in Malaysia. Nature Conservation Research 10(4): 1–12. https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2025.019

Panthera tigris jacksoni (hereinafter – Malayan tiger) is an apex predator in Peninsular Malaysia, and it is known to prey on various mammal species within its natural habitat. Studies on plant consumption in the diet of carnivores, including tigers, are limited. However, studying the Malayan tiger diet provides valuable insights that enhance our understanding of predator ecology. Diet analysis through the faecal DNA metabarcoding can provide detailed and useful insights. This study aimed to identify plant materials in wild Malayan tiger scat using advanced high-throughput sequencing, specifically trnL DNA metabarcoding. Faecal sample collection was performed in the Malayan tiger habitat, including protected and human-tiger conflict areas. This study employed DNA metabarcoding analysis and identified a total of 52 plant families from DNA extracted from 18 samples of Malayan tiger faeces, and no significant difference was found in diversity between the two habitat types, categorised as Protected Areas and human-tiger conflict areas. The predominant plant families found in the Malayan tiger faecal samples were Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Fagaceae. Furthermore, the most prevalent plant genera included Panicum, Castanea, Renealmia, Mallotus, and Uncaria. Several of the plant families and genera identified in this study could be beneficial to the health of Malayan tigers, as most of the identified plants are recognised as offering health advantages to both humans and animals. Therefore, this study suggests that the presence of certain plant species in some Malayan tiger faecal samples may indicate their potential role in self-medication or as an additional source of nutrition. However, given the limited direct evidence for adaptive benefits of plant material in the analysed tiger faecal samples, further research is necessary to clarify the ecological and physiological significance of plant consumption in this species. This dietary requirement should be given attention and assessed as a source of support for the nutrition and health of the Malayan tiger. These findings may contribute to the development of effective conservation strategies for the Malayan tiger.

carnivore, DNA metabarcoding, health, Malayan tiger, next-generation sequencing, plant-eating

Received: 17.03.2025. Revised: 31.07.2025. Accepted: 11.09.2025.

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