SETIU: Residents of Kg Jelapang were shocked to discover a male tapir weighing 220kg trapped after falling into a water-filled ditch on Wednesday (Dec 18).
A resident, Wan Zahhar Wan Zakaria, 26, said they discovered the animal when he was going to his mother-in-law’s house at around 8am.
According to Wan Zahhar, he tried unsuccessfully to help the animal out of the ditch.
“I tried to guide it out of the ditch, but it couldn’t climb up the edge as it was quite steep and slippery," he told Sinar Harian.
“I immediately asked a fellow villager to contact the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) for assistance to rescue the tapir,” he said when met by reporters at the scene.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Perhilitan director Loo Kean Seong said the animal was safely relocated on same day.
“We received a call from the public about the incident at about 8:10am and dispatched a team to the scene.
“We managed to capture the male tapir using a tranquiliser gun. It was successfully released back into its natural habitat, ensuring its safety,” he said.
