KOTA BARU – The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) managed to rescue an 80kg female Malayan tiger that was snared and injured in a poacher’s trap near the NTT Metro Farm, Pos Blau in Gua Musang, yesterday.
Kelantan Perhilitan director Mohamad Hafid Rohani said the department was alerted about the incident by the farm workers.
He said the rescue operation was carried out by the staff of the Wildlife Conservation Division, Perhilitan headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, and Perhilitan Kelantan, as well as the National Wildlife Rescue Centre and the National Tiger Conservation Centre.
“The location of the tiger was difficult to reach because it was in a steep area on the riverbank, and it was raining heavily. The rescue party used a motorboat to inspect the condition of the wild animal.
“The operation to rescue the tiger was carried out at 10.30am after information on its position and condition was clearly obtained through the use of a drone. A tranquiliser gun was used to temporarily put it to sleep to facilitate the rescue work,” he said in a statement here today.
Hafid reported that inspections revealed that the tiger’s front left ankle had been caught in the snare and that a physical examination and blood sampling had been conducted.
“The operation took three hours, involving 21 personnel, and the tiger was taken to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre for further treatment,” he said.
He added that the culprit or culprits could be fined not less than RM50,000 and not more than RM100,000 and jailed for not more than 10 years if convicted. – Bernama, June 17, 2023
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