KUALA BERANG: A livestock farmer incurred over RM10,000 in losses after six of his cattle, believed to have been attacked by a tiger, were found dead yesterday.
Abd Muien Shafie, 41, from Kampung Kemat near here, said the carcasses of his livestock were discovered in the morning and midday. The cattle were kept in a 2.2-hectare electric-fenced enclosure.
He expressed unease as he only saw two of his cattle in the area, both appearing frightened. He then patrolled the enclosure and detected a foul odour.
"I returned home and went back to the farm at noon to inspect the area again and search for the missing cattle.
"During the second round, I found the carcasses of my cattle one by one, and all six remaining cattle (previously unseen) were found dead," he said.
He stated that after finding all the carcasses, he ignited fireworks in his enclosure and subsequently heard tiger growls. He believed his cattle were killed by a tiger as he found traces of the animal's footprints and distinctly heard tiger growls.
Meanwhile, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) Terengganu director Loo Kean Seong said that tiger presence was detected in the affected village area and traps have been set.
"We (Perhilitan) have advised the villagers not to let their livestock roam freely.
"It will attract tigers and leopards, so it is better to rear livestock such as cattle in enclosures," he said.
