KUALA KANGSAR: It was the scariest moment for mother and daughter as they came face to face with two tigers early yesterday.
The tiger that was shot dead by Rela personnel. Another tiger ran off.
However, Rohani Osman, 50, and Mastura Kamaruddin, 16, who were tapping rubber trees at Kampung Chuar Hulu, Kati, near here, kept their cool and decided to try an age-old method to ward off the tigers.
Remembering the advice of elderly folks that tigers would only attack humans from behind, the two women slowly walked backwards with the tigers following them menacingly.
They continued to walk backwards to the top of a hill, fervently praying to be rescued.
“However, the two tigers kept coming at us, growling and waiting for an opportunity to attack.
“I braced myself and threw stones but it did not work.”
Rohani then remembered that she had a handphone with her and called a relative for help.
After walking backwards for two hours, the women managed to climb up a tree. However, the tigers would not give up and waited below the tree.
At this juncture, Rela and Civil Defence Department personnel managed to track down the women.
“One of the tigers became aggressive and turned its attention on the rescuers.
Rela personnel fired three shots, killing one of the tigers while the other escaped into the jungle.
The women were then helped down from the tree and taken out of the jungle.
The carcass of the 70kg female tiger was handed over to the state Wildlife Department.
Move to chase away tiger
New Straits Times 17 Jan 12;
THE state Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has set up a team to monitor the area around Kampung Chuar Hulu, Kati, near Kuala Kangsar, where two women were almost mauled by two tigers.
State Perhilitan director Mohd Nawayai Yasak said yesterday the team, comprising four rangers, were on the lookout for one of the tigers which escaped after the other was shot dead by Rela personnel on Sunday.
"The team will also monitor other villages in a radius of 5km from where the women were almost attacked.
"Once the tiger is spotted, we will drive it back deeper into the jungle and away from human settlements."
He said the area where the women faced the tigers was adjacent to the Bintang Hijau forest reserve, which was identified as a habitat for tigers and elephants.
"The site is also listed in the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan as a suitable habitat for tigers, which are considered an endangered species."
He said the tigers, which almost attacked rubber tapper Rohani Osman, 50, and her daughter, Mastura Kamaruddin, 16, were probably young tigers from the same litter.
"Judging from the size of the female tiger which was shot, it was probably under 2 years old."
He said it was highly uncharacteristic of tigers to attack humans unless threatened.
"Tigers also do not usually attack livestock. The tiger's main prey are deer and other wild animals but not cattle."
He, however, confirmed that there were reports by villagers regarding livestock being attacked by tigers, with the latest case happening several days prior to the Sunday incident.
"We have received reports on tiger sightings as well as attacks on livestock since November. A team of rangers has been monitoring the villages but no fresh tracks were found."
When asked if any legal action would be taken against the Rela personnel for shooting an endangered animal, Nawayai said the department was investigating the events which led to the tiger being shot.
"We will present our findings to the headquarters. It is up to them to proceed."
Meanwhile, he said, a taxidermy would be performed on the carcass of the 70kg female tiger, which would then be placed in a museum. He advised the public, especially villagers, not to take matters into their own hands in the event of tiger sightings.
"They should contact the nearest Perhilitan office in Sungai Siput or Selama."
The Perak Perhilitan office can be contacted at 05-2436645.
Villagers live in fear of prowling tiger
New Straits Times 20 Jan 12;
TEMERLOH: Some 600 residents of Kampung Bongsu near Lanchang, here, are living in fear of a tiger they believe is prowling nearby.
They claim that the tiger has appeared in the village several times in the past and that it did so again yesterday. Villager Adnan Mat Jail said pug marks of the animal have been spotted in the jungle bordering the village. Temerloh police chief ACP Mohd Noor Mansur confirmed that the villagers have lodged a police report and the Wildlife and National Parks Department have been notified. Bernama