Police report lodged against those who took dead tiger's whiskers

IPOH: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has lodged a police report against several individuals who allegedly pulled out and took whiskers from a dead tiger.

Perak Perhilitan director Yusoff Shariff said this team lodged the report at the Kampung Simee police station here yesterday, adding that the action by the individuals was an offence under Section 68(c) of the Wildlife Conservation Act.

"Those who own or keep a wild animal or any part or derivative of such wildlife shall, upon conviction, be punished with a fine of not less than RM150,000 and jail term for not more than 15 years," he said when contacted on Friday (Nov 10).

The tiger is believed to have been hit by a trailer on the North-South Expressway (PLUS) near the Gua Tempurung rest area.

He said a necropsy (post-mortem) on the carcass of the male tiger, estimated to be eight to 10 years old, was conducted at the Sungkai Wildlife Rescue Centre (NWRC) on Thursday (Nov 9) and further investigations are ongoing.

"When I conducted an inspection, only the (tiger's) whiskers were missing whereas its claws, teeth, fangs and other parts were still intact," he said.

Yusoff reminded the public to refrain from stealing tiger body parts should they come across a tiger carcass to avoid punishment.

The tiger is believed to be the one that attacked livestock and caused fear among Kampar residents.

A 24-second video clip has also gone viral showing several men pulling out the tiger's whiskers. – Bernama