A male tiger that had been previously sighted roaming around Sahom, Kampar, met a tragic end, believed to have been struck by a trailer on the North-South Expressway near the Gua Tempurung Rest Area late last night.

Teh Kok Lim, Chairman of the Committee on Science, Environment, and Green Technology, disclosed that news of the incident was received at 12:30 AM, prompting the Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) to launch an investigation.

Upon arrival at the scene, an examination unveiled the lifeless body of an estimated 8 to 10-year-old male tiger, with suspicions pointing to a collision with a trailer.

"The tiger's remains were transported to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre (NWRC) in Sungkai for further actions.

"We strongly believe this tiger is the same one that had previously been reported for attacking livestock, causing concern among the residents of Kampar,"  he stated today.

Further elaborating, he explained that, according to information from Perhilitan, the tiger had ventured near the village in search of food sources, primarily due to the dwindling population of wild boars in the area, a consequence of the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.

Collaborating with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Malaysia, Perhilitan used camera traps to confirm the low numbers of wild boars.

Hence, the tiger's potential return to the thick lowland forest, potentially with a new diet of cattle and other livestock, made it easier prey compared to wild boars, as explained by Teh Kok Lim.

In the wake of this unfortunate incident, he expressed deep sadness and concern for the declining tiger population, which is now teetering on the brink of extinction.

What do you think of this sad incident? Comment below. 

Source: Utusan