Wild encounter: The male sun bear caught in Kampung Air Asahan Hulu, Kelantan, where less than a week before a female bear was trapped in the same place. According to Mohamad Hafid, once a male suitor trails a prospective mate from a distance the female bear may run away, playing hard to get, which likely led to the two bears roaming in the same village orchard. — Bernama
TANAH MERAH: A male sun bear was caught in Kampung Air Asahan Hulu, less than a week after a female bear was trapped in the same orchard.
Kelantan’s Department of Wildlife Protection and National Parks (Perhilitan) director Mohamad Hafid Rohani said the wild animal was caught by its Jeli staff member after responding to a complaint on May 29 about a bear roaming in the orchard of villagers.
“Our staff member went straight to the location and installed a trap. Today, the sun bear entered the trap, relieving the villagers of ongoing losses due to the destruction of agricultural produce and property,” he said here yesterday.
This incident marks the second sun bear caught in the same village, following the capture of the female sun bear on May 28, reported Bernama.
There are concerns among wildlife conservationists on where to release the male bear as it may have been separated from the female while courting.
However, Mohamad Hafid only mentioned the relocation and release of the male sun bear to a more suitable and safe habitat would be carried out soon by the Jeli Perhilitan unit.
“The capture and relocation of the bear is not a long-term solution as the village is close to the Air Satan Nature Reserve which is the original habitat of wildlife,” he said.
