Safe from harm: Perak Perhilitan staff members attending to the sedated male tiger nicknamed ‘Yop Kuang’ after its capture. The tiger, which had caused much anxiety among the villagers of Kampung Ulu Kuang, will most likely be relocated to its home range in the Bukit Kinta Forest Reserve. — Bernama
IPOH: The prolonged anxiety of Kampung Ulu Kuang villagers due to regular sightings of a tiger ended when the animal walked into a trap set by the state Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan).
Perak Perhilitan senior assistant director Nor Hani Abdul Samat said the tiger, weighing 156kg and about six years old, entered the trap at about 11am on Saturday.
“We set up the trap on Friday after surveillance was carried out through recordings from cameras set up in the area where the tiger was sighted.
“The tiger, named ‘Yop Kuang,’ looked healthy and is believed to be part of the tiger population in the Bukit Kinta Forest Reserve,” he told reporters at Kampung Ulu Kuang yesterday.
On Friday, state Perhilitan director Yusoff Shariff confirmed receiving a report about a “tiger attack” in the village where about 2,000 people are living.
Yusoff had said initial investigations carried out revealed that the tiger has been attacking animals bred by the villagers and was also seen roaming the area, probably in search of food.
Ulu Kuang village head Hamdan Ishak said the villagers were relieved with the capture of the tiger.
The people, he said, had been living in fear after the tiger was sighted in the village.
“We thank Perhilitan for their quick action in setting up a trap and capturing the tiger without any untoward incidents.
“Now we can all return to our normal routine in the village,” he said.
