Did you know that black panthers are more common in the south of Malaysia than anywhere else in the world?
...and every so often, the black panthers can be seen emerging from the Malaysian jungle into villages and killing livestock.
Photo via Rimba
Recently, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) captured a wild black panther that allegedly killed livestock belonging to some villagers in Negeri Sembilan.
In a video shared by PERHILITAN, the feline can be seen roaring and baring its fangs after it was baited into a trap in Kampung Tengah, Seri Menanti.
TANGKAPAN SEEKOR HARIMAU KUMBANG DI KG TENGAH, SERI MENANTI, NEGERI SEMBILAN[TANGKAPAN SEEKOR HARIMAU KUMBANG DI KG TENGAH, SERI MENANTI, NEGERI SEMBILAN] Sebentar tadi, pihak Jabatan PEHILITAN Negeri Sembilan telah berjaya menangkap seekor Harimau Kumbang di Kg. Tengah, Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan. Harimau Kumbang ini telah masuk perangkap yang telah dipasang oleh pihak Jabatan PERHILITAN Negeri Sembilan sejak 14 November 2020 lepas. Harimau kini berada dalam keadaan sihat dan aktif. Walau bagaimanapun pemeriksaan kesihatan lanjut akan dijalankan bagi memastikan Harimau Kumbang ini bebas daripada sebarang penyakit sebelum dilepaskan semula ke habitat asalnya dalam masa terdekat. Kejayaan tangkapan Harimau Kumbang pada hari ini dijangka dapat menyelesaikan masalah gangguan Harimau Kumbang yang telah mengganggu haiwan ternakan di kawasan Kampung terbabit sejak bulan November lepas. Pihak Jabatan PERHILITAN mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih kepada penduduk kampung atas kerjasama yang diberikan sehingga tertangkapnya harimau kumbang ini. Maklumat lanjut mengenai aduan Harimau Kumbang di Kg. Tengah, Ser Menanti, Negeri Sembilan boleh dilihat pada pautan: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4152285844784885&id=208535215826654&sfnsn=mo
Posted by Jabatan PERHILITAN Semenanjung Malaysia on Monday, December 21, 2020
According to Malay Mail, ten PERHILITAN staff members had set up cages and camera traps back in mid-November with the help of officers from the Kuala Pilah police headquarters.
A resident, Mohd Azman Daud told Sinar Harian that he heard a loud roar coming from one of the traps near his house in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, “As soon as I heard those roars, I thought that it must be the black panther that must have finally been caught.
“Since it was 3 am at that time, I didn’t dare step out. When it was morning, the other villagers and I checked the trap and saw that there was indeed a black panther inside.”
He also claimed to have sighted a second black panther in the area not far from the trap.
The black panthers are believed to be behind a series of livestock killings in Kampung Tengah which included the death of two cows belonging to Baharin Mohamad.
“We hope that more traps can be set up because there is likely more than one black panther, and it is still roaming free in the area,” he said to the Malay Mail.
It was reported that the black panther is currently in good health and has been relocated to its original location.
According to National Geographic, the Malay Peninsula is home to the largest population in the world for black panthers, and due to their dark colours - you need a lot of luck to spot a panther in the rainforest!
But sadly, Rimba co-founder Gopalasamy Reuben Clements said that the animal is facing a serious threat due to habitat loss and poaching, which also affected the region’s other big cats - tigers and clouded leopards.
We’re glad that nobody got hurt!
If you ever come across a wild animal in your area, do not panic and inform the authorities immediately.
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
