ONLY one tiger is prowling in Hulu Selangor despite reports of four sightings by villagers, the Selangor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) said.

It believes the four complaints it received over the past week were about the same tiger.

State Perhilitan director Dennis Ten Choon Yung said the tiger, which was spotted by an auxiliary policeman on the Batang Kali-Genting Highlands stretch, was within its habitat then, and had not encroached on public space.

He said that area is part of the forest on the Titiwangsa Range, which extends to Pahang and Perak.

“We understand that people are afraid and worried, but the tiger was within its habitat, which is the thickly forested area,” Ten told the Malaysian Insight.

“The tiger rarely comes out of the thick forest. We are investigating why it has ventured out.

“It could be due to disturbances to its habitat or it is injured.”

He said since the sightings, Perhilitan has installed trap cameras to detect the tiger.

However, he said since the last sighting, there has been no sign of the animal.

Last week alone, the department received four complaints, but none since then.

On August 27, a 56-year-old auxiliary policeman lodged a report at the Gohtong Jaya police station claiming to have seen the tiger at 5.30am while on his way to work.

“Our staff went to the location and did a preliminary inspection. The tiger’s presence could not be determined due to the thick forest,” Ten said.

Hulu Selangor police chief Ahmad Faizal Tahrim said police are working with Perhilitan to track down the animal.

“So far, we have received four reports – in Serendah, Gohtong Jaya, Kuala Kubu Baru and Batang Kali. We believe it is the same tiger out looking for food,” he said.

“The public should be careful, especially those on hiking trips in the jungle.”

He urged anyone who saw the tiger to contact the Hulu Selangor police headquarters at tel: 03-6064 1222. – September 8, 2023.