MALAYSIA'S highways are home to the usual hazards of speeding lorries, sudden downpours and the occasional stubborn cow.
Motorists near Tasik Kenyir in Terengganu found themselves facing something considerably more exotic over the weekend.
Was a black panther really spotted on the Second East-West Highway in Terengganu?
Verdict:
TRUE
A Facebook user, Mohd Amirul Azfar Sagnal, 29, uploaded video footage believed to have been recorded at around 8.06pm on Saturday (July 4) showing a black panther by the roadside on the Second East-West Highway, near a petrol station at Tasik Kenyir, Gawi.
In the footage, the animal is seen on the road shoulder before returning into the forest.
"It is dangerous if motorcycles pass through Jalan Gawi, right in front of the petrol station. Everyone be careful when passing through this area," he said in the video.
Mohd Amirul, who first stopped at the petrol station to buy a drink before noticing the animal sitting across the road, recorded the video from inside his car before attempting to shoo it back towards the forest to avoid any untoward incident.
He said the panther appeared thin when it moved, and may have been unwell or hungry.
The animal had reportedly been appearing around Pengkalan Gawi for two nights.
The sighting spread on social media, drawing a range of reactions from users who advised the public to remain vigilant when passing through the area given its proximity to wildlife habitat.
The concern is not without precedent. In May 2025, a black panther was killed after being struck by a four-wheel-drive vehicle on the East Coast Expressway 2, underscoring the real risk that both wildlife and motorists face along roads that cut through forested areas.
The BUT in this verdict reflects the fact that the sighting had not been independently verified by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) at the time of reporting, and the identification rests on the viral video and eyewitness account rather than official confirmation.
Tasik Kenyir sits within an area of dense forest that forms part of the habitat for a number of endangered species, including tigers, tapirs, sun bears, elephants and black panthers.
Members of the public are advised not to approach or disturb wild animals if they encounter them, and to immediately notify Perhilitan or the relevant authorities so that appropriate action can be taken.
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