Bukit Bangkong Residents Living In Fear After Tiger Attacks On Livestock

IPOH, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Residents of Bukit Bangkong, Chemor near here have expressed concern over their safety following reports of wildlife attacks on livestock resulting in two dead and five missing cattle.

Bukit Bangkong Environmental Beautification Association chairman Lee Jun Man, 33, said that there was a sense of shock and fear running through the entire community after they heard of the official report on the attacks.

"We were very surprised when the police informed us about the attacks on livestock in the nearby fields as there has never been such attacks previously.

"People flock to Bukit Bangkong for recreation and for the past 30 years, we’ve never received any report or incident of any tiger sightings,” he told Bernama when met here today.

He said there were claims by residents hearing sounds similar to roars several days before the attacks, but there was no solid evidence to back up those claims.

Previous investigations found that the sounds could have been made by other animals but the recent attacks have changed their perception, Lee said as he expressed hope that the authorities, especially the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) would take necessary action.

He also advised residents to avoid doing anything alone in the fields during evenings and nights and to immediately report any signs of the presence of wildlife to the authorities.

Meanwhile, cattle rancher Abdul Rahman Sahul Hamid, 41, said he only realised that his livestock was attacked when he went to the cow pens for a routine daily check yesterday evening.

He had noticed that his cattle were fearful and tried to distance themselves, which was odd as they would normally approach him, and noticed that seven cows were missing from the  group.

"After looking around the field, I was shocked to find a cow dead behind the field with claw marks on its body and injuries to its neck.

"I decided to get away from there and noticed another dead cow with signs of injuries about 200 metres from the pen, and went to lodge a police report at the Tanah Hitam police station,” he said, explaining that it was the first tiger attack since he started rearing cattle almost eight years ago.

“I hope the authorities will take action immediately as I’m afraid to carry on now, and I have taken over 30 of my cattle away from this location,” Abdul Rahman added.

Bernama was able to join an inspection conducted by the police and Perhilitan today, which found new tiger tracks at several locations around the area.

Perhilitan also checked the camera traps that were set and studied the location of the dead cows left behind to identify whether they were dragged by wildlife.

-- BERNAMA