Villagers fearful of tiger still prowling around Bukit Jambul

2009/01/10

Works to clear an area for the Ipoh-Padang Besar double-tracking project may have inadvertently unleashed a prowling man-eater in the vicinity of Kampung Bukit Jambul. For the past three months, its residents have been cowering in fear, following the sighting of a tiger in the nearby Bukit Dara jungle.

The situation was further compounded four days ago when partly-eaten animal carcasses – believed to have been devoured by the tiger – were found scattered in the jungle.

Now, the residents comprising mostly farmers and rubber tappers, fear to venture out to carry out their daily chores.

Chicken breeder Said Wahab, 40, said that on several occasions, he had sighted the man-eater prowling in a rubber estate and lemon grass orchard near the village.

He said more than 10 goats, 15 rabbits and tens of chickens, belonging to the villagers, were devoured by the tiger over the past three months.

“I lost about RM4,000 when my chickens were eaten by the tiger. Some of the chickens were shocked to death by the tiger’s presence,” he told Bernama here today.

He believed the tiger had left its habitat in the jungle because the area was being cleared for the Ipoh-Padang Besar double-tracking project.

Another resident, Md Desa Said, 65, said he had seen a tiger lurking in some bushes near his vegetable garden, about two months ago.

Kedah Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) officer Abdullah Zawawi Yazid said that acting on the villagers’ report, the department conducted daily checks on the area but failed to locate the predator.

“Last Thursday, we had also set up a trap, with a goat as bait, for the tiger,” he said.

He urged villagers who have sighted the tiger to call the department hotline at 04-7312200.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/NewsBreak/20090110184145/Article/index_html

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