POLICE ISSUE WARNING AFTER TIGER PRESENCE SUSPECTED IN BUKIT BANGKONG

IPOH, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- Police have confirmed receiving a report of a suspected tiger attack in Bukit Bangkong, Tanah Hitam, near Chemor, yesterday, which resulted in the death of two cattle and the disappearance of five others.

Perak police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said the incident was reported at about 6.30 pm by a local resident who discovered two of his cattle dead with apparent bite marks, while several others were missing.

“Following the report, personnel from the Tanah Hitam police station, together with officers from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), were dispatched to the scene to conduct monitoring and initial assessments,” he said.

“Perhilitan has also installed camera traps as a measure to detect and confirm the presence of a tiger in the area,” he said, in a statement, today.

Noor Hisam said that monitoring efforts would continue, with all information shared with the relevant agencies to ensure effective risk mitigation, safeguard the safety of nearby residents, and support ongoing wildlife conservation efforts.

“Members of the public with any information are urged to immediately contact the Tanah Hitam police station or Perhilitan, to assist in the investigation.

“Police also advise residents to remain vigilant, avoid entering forested areas, and refrain from any actions that could provoke wild animals, for the safety and wellbeing of the community,” he said.

Meanwhile, Perak Perhilitan director Yusoff Shariff said camera traps have been installed in the area to monitor the movements of the tiger suspected of attacking a farmer’s cattle.

He said Perhilitan personnel were deployed to the site last night to set up the cameras, followed by a follow-up inspection this morning. However, no signs of the tiger’s return have been detected so far.

“The tiger has not returned to feed nor shown any indication of coming back. For now, we advise farmers not to allow their cattle to roam freely and to ensure all livestock are placed in secure pens at night to reduce the risk of attacks.

“We also recommend additional preventive measures, such as installing lights and maintaining small bonfires around the pen area, as well as playing audio - including Quranic recitations or radio broadcasts - throughout the night to help deter the tiger’s presence,” he said.

Yusoff stressed that Perhilitan will continue to monitor the area closely and will take further action if the tiger is detected re-entering the settlement or approaching livestock areas.

-- BERNAMA