IPOH: Residents of Bukit Bangkong, Chemor are concerned for their safety after reports of tiger attacks on livestock, resulting in two dead animals with another five missing.
Bukit Bangkong environmental beautification association chairman Lee Jun Man, 33, said the entire community was in shock and fear after hearing of the attacks.
"We were very surprised when the police informed us about the attacks on livestock in nearby fields as there had never been such attacks previously.
"People flock to Bukit Bangkong for recreation and in the past 30 years, we've never seen any tigers," he said.
He added some residents claimed of hearing roars several days before the attacks but there was no evidence to support it.
Previous investigations only found that the roars could have been from other animals but the recent attacks have changed their perception, Lee said.
He said he hoped authorities, especially the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), would take necessary action.
He also advised residents to avoid going into the fields alone during evenings and nights and to immediately report any signs of wildlife presence to authorities.
Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman Sahul Hamid, 41, said he only realised that his livestock had been attacked when he went to his cattle pens for a routine check on Saturday evening.
He said noticed that his cattle were scared and tried to get away from him, which was odd as they would normally approach him.
He then noticed that seven cows were missing.
"After looking around, I found a dead cow with claw marks on its body and neck.
"I found another dead cow with signs of injuries about 200m from the pen and lodged a police report," he said, adding this was the first attack by a tiger since he started rearing cattle eight years ago.
"I hope the authorities will take action immediately. I'm afraid now and have taken over 30 heads of cattle away from here," Abdul Rahman said.
An inspection conducted by the police and Perhilitan on Sunday found new tiger tracks at several locations around the area.
Perhilitan also checked camera traps set up and inspected the site of the attacks. – Bernama
