THE Wildlife and National Parks Department of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) rescued an 80kg female Malayan tiger that was snared and injured in a poacher’s trap near NTT Metro Farm, Pos Blau in Gua Musang, yesterday.

Kelantan Perhilitan director Mohamad Hafid Rohani said the department was alerted about the incident by farm staff.

He said the rescue operation was carried out by staff of the Wildlife Conservation Division, Perhilitan headquarters Kuala Lumpur and Perhilitan Kelantan, as well as the National Wildlife Rescue Centre and the National Tiger Conservation Centre.

“The location of the tiger was difficult to access because it was in a steep area on the bank of a river and it was raining heavily. The rescue party used a motorboat to inspect the condition of the wild animal.

“The operation to rescue the tiger was carried out at 10.30am after information on its position and condition was clearly obtained through the use of a drone. A tranquiliser gun was used to temporarily put it to sleep to facilitate the rescue work,” he said in a statement today.

Hafid said checks found that the tiger had been trapped by the snare on the fore left ankle and that a physical examination and blood sampling had been carried out.

“The operation took three hours involving 21 staff members and the tiger was taken to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre for further treatment,” he said.

He added that the culprit or culprits could be fined not less than RM50, 000 and not more that RM100, 000, and jailed not more than 10 years, if convicted. – Bernama, June 17, 2023.