Logger injured in Terengganu sun bear attack

A file picture of a rescued sun bear in captivity.

BANDAR PERMAISURI: A man faced an anxious moment when he was attacked by a sun bear in Kampung Tok Dor, Ajil, near Hulu Terengganu, last Wednesday (Feb 1).

Mohd Syukri Zakaria, 39, who works as a logging supervisor said in the 8am incident, he and his friend were fixing a broken water pipe when they heard a strange noise.

He said a few minutes later he saw a sun bear emerge from a nearby bush and charged at him, knocking him to the ground.

"My friend managed to escape but I was unable to do so because the bear had grabbed me. As I hit the ground, the animal slammed its head into my face and bit my left shoulder.

"I couldn't do anything except say my prayers. The bear suddenly stopped attacking me and ran back into the bush. I then walked for 20 minutes to a kongsi house near the logging area to get help," he said when met by reporters at his home in Kampung Pelong, here on Wednesday (Feb 8).

Mohd Syukri said the five-minute mauling resulted in him being treated for five days at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Kuala Terengganu where he received seven stitches in his face. He also suffered injuries to his left shoulder.

Mohd Syukri, who has been working in the area for more than a year, also claimed that the same bear had been spotted in the area several times before but would usually run away.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Loo Kean Seong, when contacted, confirmed receiving a report about the incident on Feb 2.

He said investigations found that prior to the incident, the sun bear was chasing a dog in the forest area.

"While chasing the dog, the sun bear came across the victim (Mohd Syukri) and attacked him," he said, adding that the department would continue to monitor the area to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Loo also advised the public not to provoke any wild animal they see and to contact the nearest Perhilitan office for further action. – Bernama