THE Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) has lodged a police report after the discovery of several dead animals such as dogs, cats, and birds, at various locations around the tourism landmark here.
Some quarters believe that the animals could have been poisoned or attacked by a growing number of strays in the vicinity.
An animal rights activists S. Gopalkrishan said the local authorities need to pay more attention to the growing number of strays loitering around.
Gopalkrishan suggested that the councils catch them and neuter the population so over time, the numbers can be contained.
PHC general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng confirmed that several carcasses of dogs, cats and birds were found at multiple locations on Sunday.
“There might be more. We are still looking. We found food spread along the jeep track and a few locations,” he said when contacted.
“We suspect the main targets are the stray dogs. There have been claims by hikers and visitors in recent weeks that they were bitten by strays.”
Cheok said the agency will also lodge formal reports with the veterinary services department and national wildlife and parks department, besides conducting an internal probe.
Earlier today, Penang Hill posted that the animals were believed to have been poisoned.
“Using poison to eliminate stray animals is unacceptable and is punishable under the Penal Code (Act 574) and/or Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772) with imprisonment, a fine, or both,” it said.
The poisoning at Penang Hill is the latest of such incidents in the state.
Combined with past incidents at Island Glades and Tanjung Bungah, it is believed that close to 100 dogs have been killed, it was reported.
State tourism committee chairperson Wong Hon Wai said that the state does not tolerate such gruesome activities, and urged the relevant authorities to act, especially if there are intentional poisoning cases happening. – July 7, 2025
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