Hamdan Raja Abdulla, The Star 17 Jan 10;
MUAR: Villagers fearing for their safety after three people died in motorcycle accidents involving wild boars have gone hunting for the animals – and have killed 22 so far.
Kampung Parit Kemang villagers near Sungai Balang have mounted the hunt for wild boars following the deaths of the motorcyclists – the first two months ago.
Using 15 hunting dogs, the team of about 20 men from the Wildlife and National Parks Department, Rela and local hunters have been combing farms and plantations in and around the village.
State Women, Family, Health and Community Development Committee chairman Dr Robia Kosai said the beasts had caused fear among the villagers.
In November last year, a 19-year-old youth on a motorcycle died after he crashed into a wild boar.
Last month, a 45-year-old man suffered a similar fate.
Last week, an Indonesian motorcyclist knocked into a wild boar and died after he was run over by a vehicle, she said yesterday.
Dr Robia said the animals also destroyed crops in the villages.
She said village head Omar Marmin had requested for a hunting party to be formed to rid the village – and six others in Sungai Balang – of the animals.
The hunting team, she said, killed nine boars last week. Yesterday, another 13 were killed.
Omar said the wild boars started to roam the plantations and farms in the villages last year.
“On some rainy days, the animal could be seen near houses.
“Some even entered the porch looking for food,” Omar said.
“We hope the hunting team will be able to rid the animals from our villages and farms,” he added.
