13-10-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia’s wildlife department, Perhilitan, is currently embroiled in a controversy over its unconventional method of using puppies as live bait to capture wild panthers. This unorthodox approach was brought to public attention when local Malaysian media reported the successful capture of a wild panther in Negeri Sembilan on September 18th, achieved by employing three innocent puppies as bait to lure the elusive predator.
In the following weeks, Perhilitan employed the same controversial method to capture two more panthers on September 27th and October 1st, leading to significant public scrutiny.
The series of events that led to these unusual tactics began when a wild panther brutally attacked a villager’s dog in a local fruit orchard. This shocking incident prompted a swift response from the Negeri Sembilan Chief Minister, Aminuddin Harun, who took to Facebook on September 4th to detail the events that followed the unfortunate dog mauling. Subsequently, terrified villagers filed a formal complaint with the wildlife department, urging authorities to address the panther issue.
On October 5th, the Malaysian animal rights group, Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM), expressed its concerns through a Facebook post, questioning Perhilitan’s decision to use puppies as bait. SAFM suggested that more humane alternatives, such as goats, chickens, or cows, could have been employed to capture the wild panthers. The group went further, calling upon the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
“This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of approaching wildlife management with care and ethics, seeking solutions that best protect the interests of all living creatures involved,” SAFM emphasized in their statement.
Perhilitan, however, has defended its use of puppies as bait. Abdul Kadir Abu Hassan, the director-general of Perhilitan, explained their rationale to Malaysian media, stating that puppies were used because their conventional method of employing live goats as bait had proven ineffective in this particular case. Abdul reassured the public that all procedures adhered to the department’s standard guidelines during the operation.
“In this specific scenario, evidence suggested that the panther had previously attacked dogs. Therefore, we used puppies for their barking and scent to attract the panther,” Abdul clarified. He also mentioned that the cage utilized to trap the panthers had a separate compartment for the puppies. Importantly, he confirmed that none of the puppies were injured in the process and were promptly released once the panther was captured.
It is worth noting that Perhilitan has successfully captured a dozen panthers in Negeri Sembilan over the past year, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Chief Minister Aminuddin acknowledged that the captured panthers have been treated and appeared to be in good health. However, he did not disclose whether they were released back into the wild.
Additionally, the Chief Minister stated that Perhilitan was actively investigating the reasons behind the panthers’ intrusion into the village, seeking to address the underlying issues and prevent future incidents.
