Tiger Footprints Found At Felda Lepang Nenering, Perhilitan Sets Trap

IPOH, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) has confirmed the discovery of footprints believed to belong to a tiger at Felda Lepang Nenering in Pengkalan Hulu, Gerik, on Oct 26. 

Perak Perhilitan director Dr Pazil Abdul Patah said the confirmation was made following an investigation and field inspection by the Gerik District Perhilitan Office after it received a report from a plantation worker about the incident on the same day. 

“For now, Perhilitan has activated a tiger trap located less than a kilometre from where the footprints were found. 

“We believe the tiger ventured close to the plantation and residential areas because Felda Lepang Nenering is located near the Bintang Hijau Permanent Forest Reserve,” he told Bernama when contacted today. 

Earlier, several photographs showing the discovery of the predator’s footprints went viral on Facebook, prompting various reactions and raising concerns among social media users. 

Pazil also denied claims by some members of the public that reports about the presence of a tiger in the area had been made long ago, but Perhilitan had taken no action. 

“We did not receive any recent official report of a tiger sighting before Oct 26. Records show that the last report concerning the species at Felda Lepang Nenering was received on July 30,” he said. 

He said Perhilitan would continue monitoring the area and had also disseminated safety guidelines to plantation workers to prevent any untoward incidents. 

In a related development, he said 26 reports of human-tiger conflict had been recorded in the Hulu Perak district from January to date, and appropriate action had been taken on all of them. 

-- BERNAMA