Panther strikes fear in villagers

TAIPING - Residents of Kampung Bukit Bertam in Batu Kurau have been living in fear of a panther, which has killed five cows, for a week.

Ishak Mat Akib, 58, said he was the first to spot the animal a few days ago.

"I stopped my motorcycle as soon as I saw the panther, but it then moved out of sight. I calmed myself by reciting Quranic verses."

Rogayah Abdul Razak, 71, said she heard a "strange animal sound" from the jungle near her house.

"Now, I don't stay outside the house for long, especially in the evening," she said, adding that her grandchildren had been told not to play outdoors.

State Wildlife and National Parks Department director Fakhrul Hatta Musa said it had set a trap to catch the animal.

However, he said, he was not sure if it was indeed a panther.

"Panthers have never been sighted in the Batu Kurau area. It could have been some other animal."

The trap was set several days ago when villagers complained about the dead livestock.