Precious cargo: Charlsrickson carrying the young goat he spotted while carrying out a rescue operation at Kampung Melayu Bukit Batu in Kulai.
JOHOR BARU: All lives matter, even that of a baby goat.
Firefighters held fast to their motto of “ready to rescue, fast and friendly” when they spared no efforts to rescue a goat from the rising floodwater at Kampung Melayu Bukit Batu last Friday.
In fact, one fireman risked his own life to rescue the animal.
“My men were carrying out a rescue operation at the area when they spotted the baby goat on top of a pile of sand, which was going to be submerged by floodwater,” said Johor Fire and Rescue Department acting director Mohd Rizal Buang.
“One of the firemen, Charlsrickson James, jumped out of the rescue boat and waded through the flood water to save the animal from drowning,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He applauded the action of his men especially Charlsrickson for saving the poor, defenceless young goat and ensuring it could be reunited with its owner.
Mohd Rizal also shared a story about his close encounter with a wild animal while accompanying Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim to distribute food supplies at an Orang Asli village at Pucur in Kahang, Kluang on Saturday.
“We were going through Sungai Kahang heading towards the village when we spotted an elephant swimming across the river to get onto higher ground to escape the rising flood waters.
“As part of safety measures, we slowed our boat including the airboat driven by Tunku Abu Bakar to let the elephant swim past us,” he added.
Mohd Rizal said those who come across wild animals should not try to get close or even attempt to capture them on their own for safety reasons.
They should instead contact authorities such as the Fire and Rescue Department or the Wildlife and National Parks Department.
