Second black panther sighting near Pengkalan Gawi raises safety concerns

 

The panther was spotted near a petrol station and the Pengkalan Gawi Rest and Recreation (R&R) area.

KUALA BERANG: A black panther has been spotted again near a petrol station and the Pengkalan Gawi Rest and Recreation (R&R) area, more than a week after its first sighting raised safety concerns among road users.

Maintenance worker Mohd Roslan Rosman, 45, said he first learnt of the animal's presence through social media last week, before another video showing the panther in the same area went viral after it was spotted by members of the public on Saturday night.

He said the repeated sightings near the petrol station and R&R had raised concerns among motorists and field workers in the area.

"The panther's presence is also dangerous for field workers who may not realise the risks if they are not vigilant," he said.

Resident Mamat Abdullah, 60, said he understood that Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) officers had been monitoring the area since last week.

He said the location was close to dense forest, the animal's natural habitat, and could be part of its regular route.

"The situation must be addressed immediately as road users and field workers are exposed to the risk of being attacked," he said.

Mamat said he was unsure whether the animal was injured but added that it appeared to be moving normally in the viral video.

He urged authorities to take appropriate action to protect both the public and the animal, including preventing it from being hit by vehicles at night.

"This is the second time the panther has appeared around Gawi, so necessary measures should be taken," he said.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Perhilitan director Dennis Ten said the department received a report about 11pm on Saturday regarding a black panther roaming along the main road near Pengkalan Gawi.

He said Perhilitan personnel were deployed to the location about 9.30am the following day to install a tiger trap.

"The nearest forest reserves are the Hulu Telemong Forest Reserve and Hulu Terengganu Tambahan Forest Reserve, both about 500m from the sighting location," he said.

Ten said camera traps had been installed on July 7, while the tiger trap was set up on Saturday, with regular monitoring to continue.

Earlier, videos circulating on social media showed the black panther roaming near a petrol station and the Pengkalan Gawi R&R, where it was recorded by passing motorists. - NST