THE Wildlife and National Parks Department of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) has cautioned the public against actions that may aggravate tigers if they encounter the animals.
Selangor Perhilitan director Wan Mohd Adib Wan Mohd Yusoh said his rangers have installed camera traps at several locations in the state following complaints about the presence of tigers in Hulu Selangor since August.
He said no captures have been made but Perhilitan is monitoring the situation.
“In addition to installing camera traps and patrols, we also conduct wildlife crime prevention patrols through Khazanah’s Integrated Operation Programme and BP3 Community Rangers,” he was quoted as saying by Harian Metro.
In August, Selangor Perhilitan received a public complaint about sightings of a Malayan tiger following police reports.
Wan Adib said other states, specifically Kedah, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Johor, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, also have a good number of wild tigers.
He said the increased tiger sightings were caused by unchecked land development, resulting in natural tiger habitats being encroached upon and the ecosystem disrupted.
“When forests are cut away and separated from other jungle areas, it becomes difficult for the species to move around to other habitats to breed and find food or new territories.
“This situation caused the Malayan tiger to leave its original habitat and enter human settlements,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.
“Malayan tigers have the potential to kill farm animals, frighten residents and cause injury or death to humans,” he said.
He reminded the public to leave immediately if they notice the presence of tigers and other forest predators such as panthers and leopards.
“Avoid entering the forest area alone and if you encounter these species, it is forbidden to provoke the wildlife in question, which may cause it to feel threatened, thereby risking attack on humans.
“Contact Perhilitan at 1800-885-151 if you come across the animal involved,” he said. “Don’t take action yourself as a safety measure.”
There have been several reports of incidents involving the Malayan tiger in Peninsular Malaysia over the last few months, in plantations and forests.
Most of the incidents were in Kelantan.
On November 12, a 22-year-old Myanmar national rubber tapper reportedly died at Gua Musang Hospital after being attacked while working in Meranto.
Two days earlier, an Indonesian man, also a rubber tapper, was mauled by a tiger in Kuala Wok near Pos Pasik.
In early October, an Orang Asli man was found dead with a leg missing in the Pos Pasik forest, with claw marks on his head and body.
In mid-November, tiger pugmarks were found near some villages in Gua Musang.
Kampung Seberang Lembaga and the Kesedar Sungai Terah Land Rehabilitation Scheme residents have been terrified ever since the marks were spotted, and Perhilitan has been monitoring the areas. – The Vibes, December 3, 2023.
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