KUALA PILAH: A male panther which is believed to have been terrorising the villagers in Kampung Parit Mungkal in Tanjung Ipoh here, was caught in a trap recently.
The animal weighing around 50kg was believed to have been responsibile in killing 11 goats belonging to a villager here last week.
On Tuesday, it got caught in a trap set by the Negri Sembilan Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) which later took it to its office in Jempol.
However, the villagers are still afraid as they believed there were more still out in the wild.
Villager Mohd Bakhtiar Nong Singah, 32, who claimed to have lost 11 goats to the animal, said they believed there was a second adult panther and two cubs living in the nearby jungle.
He said nine of his herd were found dead in their pen with bite marks on their necks, while the other two were believed to have been dragged into the forest.
Village head, Shamsuddin Zainal, 75, said this was the second time a dangerous wild animal was caught in the village, with the last being in 1986.
"The first one was a tiger and now it is a panther. We fear for our safety as we believe more are still lurking within these jungles," he said.
Meanwhile, state Women, Family and Community Development Exco member Datuk Norhayati Omar who is also the Pilah state assemblyman, said she would discuss the issue with Perhilitan.
"Among the things the authorities can do is is to continue placing traps to capture these animals while the villagers can keep safe by keeping the area around their homes well-lit," she said.
The male panther caught in a trap set by Negri Sembilan Perhilitan in Kampung Parit Mungkal in Tanjung Ipoh, Kuala Pilah. STR/Amran Yahya
Sheep breeders seek help over panther attack
New Straits Times 2 Oct 13;
KUALA PILAH: Sheep breeders in Kampung Mungkal here have asked the Department of Wildlife Protection and National Parks to step up patrols near the jungle fringe of the village following a panther attack on their livestock two days ago.
Villager Abdul Mujib Nong Singah, 30, said he feared the panther would continue to target the village despite traps having been set by the department.
"The department had advised us to light fires in the village at night to keep the panther at bay but we are afraid the predator may sneak in and devour the livestock," he said.
Abdul Mujib said all the sheep had been booked by people for the coming Aidiladha.
The sheep breeder was shocked to find nine of his sheep dead and two missing on Monday, and he spotted bite marks on the dead sheep and pug marks around the sheep enclosure. -- BERNAMA
A sheep breeder was shocked to find nine of his sheep dead and two missing on Monday. Bite marks were spotted on the dead sheep. -- STR/Amran Yahya
Villagers living in fear after livestock massacre
The Star 2 Oct 13;
KUALA PILAH: Villagers at Kg Parit Mungkal in Tanjung Ipoh near here are living in fear after nearly a dozen sheep were torn to pieces in what is believed to be the work of panthers.
Villager Nor Asiah Yunus, 61, believes that the large cats killed 11 of her sheep.
“Nine sheep were found dead in the pen while two others are missing,” she said, adding that her two sons made the gruesome discovery yesterday when they went to check on the animals at about 7am.
“The sheep had been brutally attacked and suffered massive bites all over their bodies,” said Nor Asiah, adding that both her sons then began searching for clues and were shocked to find paw prints all over the pen.
One of the sons, Abdul Mujib Singah, 30, said several family members had heard strange sounds coming from behind their house at about 4am but never thought it could be panthers.
“The geese and cows were hysterical, but we thought nothing much of it until we saw the carnage several hours later,” he said, adding that this was the first time their livestock had been attacked by wildlife since they moved there in 1989.
Abdul Mujib said he had sought the assistance of the Veterinary Services as well as the Wildlife and National Parks Departments to shed more light on the attack, adding that he estimated his losses at RM11,000.