KOTA BARU: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has rescued an 80kg female Malayan tiger that was snared and injured in a poacher’s trap near the NTT Metro Farm, Pos Blau in Gua Musang.
Kelantan Perhilitan director Mohamad Hafid Rohani said the department was alerted about the incident by a worker at the farm on Friday.
He said the rescue operation was carried out by personnel from the Wildlife Conservation Division, Perhilitan headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and Perhilitan Kelantan as well as the National Wildlife Rescue Centre and the National Tiger Conservation Centre.
“The location of the tiger was difficult to access because it was in a steep area on the bank of a river, and there was heavy rain. The rescue party used a motorboat to inspect the condition of the wild animal.
“The operation to rescue the tiger was carried out at 10.30am after information on its position and condition was clearly obtained through the use of a drone. A tranquilliser gun was used to temporarily put it to sleep to facilitate the rescue work,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Mohamad Hafid said checks found that the tiger had been trapped by the snare on its front left ankle and that a physical examination and blood sampling had been carried out.
“The operation took three hours and involved 21 personnel. The tiger was taken to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre for further treatment,” he said.
He said those responsible can be fined between RM50,000 and RM100,000 and jailed not more than 10 years upon conviction.
Meanwhile, Perhilitan also captured four wild elephants during an operation in Kampung Peralla 1, Tanah Merah, earlier on Wednesday.
Mohamad Hafid said the department received complaints from residents about a herd of elephants that often wandered into their villages and fed on oil palm leaves.
“Two adult female elephants and two calves were captured after they were tranquilised,” he said in a statement.
Mohamad Hafid said the elephants also frequently entered the adjacent villages of Kampung Peralla, Air Berdang, Air Kerla, Bukit Pauh, Bukit Durian, Kelisar and Kampung Lepan Bola.
The agricultural produce destroyed by the elephants were oil palm fruits, coconuts, rubber and banana trees worth about RM150,000.
“The four wild elephants will be relocated to their original habitat far away from human settlements. The relocation operation will be carried out soon by the National Elephant Sanctuary in Lanchang, Pahang,” he added. —Bernama
