ANIMAL WARNING

A panther died after being hit by a truck on the Gerik-Jeli road

GERIK: An adult panther was found dead after being hit by a truck in an incident at Kilometer 67.1, on the East-West Gerik-Jeli Highway (JRTB), near here today.

Director of the Department of Wildlife Protection and National Parks (Perhilitan) Perak, Yusoff Shariff said that the incident after the Titiwangsa Bus Stop happened at around 05.30 WIB involving a truck that was driving from Gerik towards Jeli.

He said, the sex of the predatory animal could not be identified yet due to the condition of the carcass being destroyed.

Information related to the incident was received around 09:00, Gerik Police personnel went to the location to investigate.

"When we got there, it was found that his body was destroyed because it was hit by another vehicle. Therefore, it is difficult for us to identify the sex and estimated age of the wild animal, but it is believed to be an adult tiger," he said when contacted in Jakarta, today.

According to him, the condition of the tiger's body which has been destroyed also makes it difficult for him to identify the group of wild animals.

But we are sure that this striped tiger comes from the forest near Temengor Protected Forest, Gerik Protected Forest, or Royal Belum Forest, he said.

He added that the tiger carcass will be sent to the Institute of Biodiversity (IBD) Lanchang, Pahang for the taxidermy process (preservation), especially on the remaining part of the mammal's head.

Previously, several videos circulated on social media showing a panther being hit by a truck until its body was destroyed and its head severed.