QuickCheck: Did a clouded leopard attack pets, livestock in Kedah?

TALES of human-animal conflict are on the rise, with incidents occurring throughout the country.

Recently, it was reported that residents of Kampung Lubuk Tualang in Kedah were in fear of a predator that was attacking their pets and livestock.

Is it true that a clouded leopard was caught in the area after several attacks on livestock and pets?

Verdict:

TRUE

National news agency Bernama reported that the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) successfully captured a male clouded leopard roaming the outskirts of Kampung Lubuk Tualang on Tuesday (Nov 26) morning.

Kedah Perhilitan director Dr Abdul Malek Mohd Yusof said efforts were made to capture the animal after receiving complaints from villagers about a leopard attacking livestock and pets.

“Last Sunday (Nov 24), we received a complaint about a leopard attacking livestock and pets… on the same day, Perhilitan staff from the Sik district went to the location and found fresh footprints of the animal,” he said.

He added that the captured clouded leopard would be examined to determine its health, and if it was in good health, it would be relocated to a habitat far from human settlements.

Abdul Malek also said that reports of clouded leopard attacks were also received from nearby villages including Kampung Chepir, Kampung Hujung Becah, Kampung Sik Dalam and Kampung Kelian in the district.

“This clouded leopard is believed to have come out of the Rimba Teloi Forest Reserve, located near the village, to find food.

“The public is advised to be more cautious and vigilant if they encounter wildlife and any complaints or information regarding wildlife can be channelled to Perhilitan via the hotline 1-800-88-5151 or e-complaint on the website www.wildlife.gov.my,” he said.

Kampung Lubuk Tualang resident Mohamad Wahab, 38, told Bernama that villagers had been afraid to go out to tap rubber or to farm because they often encountered the predator.

“The clouded leopard once attacked a pet monkey and a goat belonging to a villager.

“Thank God… finally the leopard has been successfully captured, its size is quite large…thank you to Perhilitan for taking immediate action to prevent unwanted incidents from recurring,” he said.