Malaysia: 15 sheep deaths blamed on tiger

Nur Aqidah Azizi, Abnor Hamizam Abd Manap New Straits Times 16 Feb 19;

JELEBU: Fifteen sheep have been found dead at Kampung Geylang Pertang, here. It believed that they were attacked by a tiger last night.

Pertang state assembly coordinator Azmi Abd Rahman said the incident was reported by the owner, who found the carcasses this morning.

“The owner was shocked to find the sheep were dead when he wanted to feed them this morning at 8am,” he said.

“The sheep were found with their guts ripped out.

“Based on their condition, we believe they were mauled by a tiger.”

He said this was the second time such an incident had occurred.

The first occurred two months ago.

He said the state Wildlife and National Parks Department had installed traps to capture the tiger.

“So far, we haven’t been able to catch the predator. We hope the authorities will look into this matter before the situation worsens,” he said.

Negri Sembilan Wildlife and National Parks Department director Wan Mat Wan Harun said he had yet to receive any reports on the incident.


Endangered black panther caught following Jelebu sheep massacre
Abnor Hamizam Abd Manap New Straits Times 17 Feb 19;

JELEBU: A black panther was captured by the Negri Sembilan Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) in Kampung Geylang near Pertang here, last night – less than 24 hours after the mutilated carcasses of 15 sheep were found on a village farm here, on Saturday.

State Perhilitan director, Wan Mat Wan Harun said the predator was caught at about 10pm using an iron trap which had been installed in the village two weeks ago.

“The panther was lured using the carcass of a goat, which we had used as bait.

“So far, we have yet to identify the sex and weight of the animal, pending a treatment procedure which will be carried out by the Veterinary Department and Perhilitan,” he said when contacted by NSTP here, today.

Wan Mat said the animal is a member of a rare endangered species which is fully protected according to the second schedule of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).

“The panther will be released back to its habitat after a regular inspection procedure is carried out to ensure that it is healthy,” he added.

Wan Mat said an investigation on the killing of the 15 sheep revealed that the panther had entered their enclosure through a gap between the roof and the wall.

“We have since covered the cage with a black net,” he added.

Meanwhile, the sheep’s owner, Ibrahim Maasin, 60, said he only realised that his animals had been killed when he went to their cage to feed them at 9am yesterday.

“The cage is located about 100 meters from my house, and I believe the attack occurred at midnight.

“This is the fourth such incident. (In the) three previous incidents, 20 goats were killed.

“The three previous attacks occurred outside the cage. This latest incident is the first to take place inside the cage,” he said.