MELAKA: Camera traps have been set up in the Kampung Bukit Tampoi area by Melaka's Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) to identify the culprit behind the deaths of six goats, as villagers suspect a wild panther is terrorising their livestock.
The department's state director, Petra Sulaiman, said the camera would reveal the real culprit, as no panther tracks have been discovered in the area so far.
"We have installed two "trail cameras" in the area to capture the image of the creature that had mauled the goats," he said when contacted on Tuesday (Oct 22).
Petra added that there are also no forest reserves near the area.
On Saturday (Oct 19) residents from two housing estates near Kampung Bukit Tampoi claimed that a black leopard had killed six goats in the area.
Some residents claimed they had spotted the animal crossing the roads and moving towards the goat and cattle pens in the wee hours of the morning.
Mutiara Residential Association's chairman, Ismail Kassim, 67, said about 300 families in both Mutiara and Sutera housing estates, located close to the livestock pens, are now on alert.
"The incident has gone viral on social media, and residents were concerned about their safety, especially children and those attending morning prayers at the surau," he said on Tuesday.
Another resident, Mohd Shukor Md Jali, 38, claimed he had spotted a huge animal that appeared to be a panther crossing the main road from the nearby forest to the livestock pen.
"I had just returned from a fishing trip when I saw a black figure that looked like a big cat crossing the road.
"Luckily, I was driving my car," he said.
Livestock breeder Ab Razak Ab Rahim, 32, said Perhilitan responded promptly by dispatching two officers to the site where six of his goats were mauled by a wild animal.
"I suspect a black panther has mauled my goats, and I have transferred the remaining livestock to a friend's farm in Kampung Panchor following the incident," he added.
Ab Razak said he lodged a police report on the same day he discovered his goats were attacked and killed.
On Sunday (Oct 20) it was reported that Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Ashari Abu Samah said a report regarding the dead goats was lodged at Alor Gajah police headquarters at 10pm on Saturday.
He said the breeder found six of his goats mauled by a wild animal, and one of the goats was dragged 200m from the pen.
Supt Ashari said the breeder has been involved in the livestock business since 2022 and has 13 goats.
