Current:Home > reviewsMalaysia’s wildlife department defends its use of puppies as live bait to trap black panthers -Nova Finance Academy
Malaysia’s wildlife department defends its use of puppies as live bait to trap black panthers
View
Date:2025-04-14 04:16:46
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s Wildlife Department defended its use of puppies as live bait to capture black panthers spotted at a Malaysian village after animal rights groups protested the method and appealed to the government to use other means.
The department resorted to using puppies after earlier attempts to lure the panthers with a goat failed. It’s standard procedure to use live animals, Wildlife Department Director General Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said in remarks published Tuesday, noting that the puppies were not physically harmed in the process.
“In this particular case, there was indication that the panther had attacked dogs (before), so we used the puppies for their barking and scent to attract the panther,” he told the Free Malaysia Today online news portal.
Farmers in a village in southern Negeri Sembilan state were terrified after spotting a panther near their home in September. Villagers lodged a complaint with the Wildlife Department after a panther mauled their dog at a fruit orchard in the state on Sept. 4, according to a Facebook post by Negeri Sembilan Chief Minister Aminuddin Harun.
Aminuddin said the Wildlife Department immediately installed a trap for the big cat, which was believed to have come from a forest reserve nearby. The department managed to trap three panthers on Sept. 18, Sept. 27 and Oct. 1, he said.
The operation, however, sparked controversy after local media reported that puppies were used as live bait to lure the panthers. Malaysian Animal Welfare Association slammed the move as shocking, and said it would have been more ethical for the department to use raw cattle meat. The Animal Care Society also appealed to the government to stop using live animals in such operations.
Abdul Kadir explained that the trap — a cage with a separate compartment to hold the puppies — is able to swiftly release the canines once the panther is caught. He said the pups were unharmed and that officials adhered to operating procedures.
Abdul Kadir did not immediately respond to requests for comment by phone and email.
Wildlife officials in Negeri Sembilan told local media that the first panther caught was a female weighing about 40 kilograms (90 pounds). The department has caught a dozen panthers in the state since the start of the year, including the the three caught in September.
Aminuddin previously said the panthers have been treated and appeared healthy, though he did not say whether they were released back into the forest. He said the Wildlife Department was also conducting aerial investigations using drones to find out why the panthers had strayed into the village.
Black panthers, found in tropical forests in Asia, Africa and Central and South America, are solitary animals that hunt at night and rarely bother people. Conservation researchers said panthers are a protected species and rarely bother people, but they face threats of habitat loss and poaching in Malaysia.
In May, an adult black panther was hit by a car and died after it strayed on to a road from a forest reserve and the driver couldn’t stop in time.
veryGood! (69)
Related
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Drew Barrymore has been warned to 'back off' her guests after 'touchy' interviews
- Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death and fled to Eastern Europe is in custody, online records show
- Are you tipping your mail carrier? How much do Americans tip during the holidays?
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Turning dusty attic treasures into cash can yield millions for some and disappointment for others
- One Tech Tip: How to protect your communications through encryption
- Through 'The Loss Mother's Stone,' mothers share their grief from losing a child to stillbirth
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Amazon's Thank My Driver feature returns: How to give a free $5 tip after delivery
Ranking
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- New Jersey, home to many oil and gas producers, eyes fees to fight climate change
- Woody Allen and Soon
- A Malibu wildfire prompts evacuation orders and warnings for 20,000, including Dick Van Dyke, Cher
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- See Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's Twins Monroe and Moroccan Gift Her Flowers Onstage
- California judges say they’re underpaid, and their new lawsuit could cost taxpayers millions
- Woody Allen and Soon
Recommendation
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
Secretly recorded videos are backbone of corruption trial for longest
Amazon's Thank My Driver feature returns: How to give a free $5 tip after delivery
See Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's Twins Monroe and Moroccan Gift Her Flowers Onstage
Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
What Americans think about Hegseth, Gabbard and key Trump Cabinet picks AP
I loved to hate pop music, until Chappell Roan dragged me back
See Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's Twins Monroe and Moroccan Gift Her Flowers Onstage