JOHOR BARU: A tiger presence in Felda Ulu Tebrau for the first time in almost 60 years is causing safety concerns among the settlers there.
Over the past two weeks, three cows were believed to have been mauled by the apex predator within the felda settlement, which is about 20km away from the city centre.
Mark of danger: A paw print believed to be that of a tiger found in Felda Ulu Tebrau in Johor Baru.
Village chief Ab Jalil Sahlan said the first incident occurred five days before Hari Raya when an adult cow was mauled, followed by another on April 20.
“The latest was discovered on Tuesday with its neck ripped apart.
“Each of these cows weighs about 100kg, so the predator is very likely a tiger.
“This is the first time that the village experienced such incidents,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Ab Jalil said before Felda Ulu Tebrau was opened in 1960s, there were tigers prowling in the area as it was a thick jungle back then.
He said to address safety concerns among the settlers, the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) and Civil Defence Force have deployed their personnel to the settlement.
Johor Perhilitan director Aminuddin Jamin confirmed that Felda Ulu Tebrau management had lodged a report about a tiger presence in the area on Wednesday.
“Residents alerted us after they discovered the carcass of a headless cow.
“They also found several paw prints which belong to a big predator believed to be a tiger,” he said.
Aminuddin said Perhilitan has sent a team to the settlement to carry out further checks.
“We are assessing the situation. If the signs show that the predator is lurking in the area, then we will set up several traps to capture the animal,” he said.
He also urged the Felda settlers and those living in nearby areas to take precautionary measures and avoid going to secluded places alone.
