JERANTUT: Residents at Felda Kota Gelanggi 3 near here today woke up to news that a clouded leopard has been spotted resting under one of the settlers houses.
The 7.30am drama unfolded when one of the settler's neighbours spotted the animal. He then alerted other villagers.
Settler Ramli Othman said after news about the presence of the big cat spread in the village, some of them went to check if the information was genuine.
The 60-year-old said that as the area under the house was dark, he along with few others brought flashlights.
"We shone the flashlight from a distance and even before we could catch a glimpse of the clouded leopard, the animal gave out a loud roar. All of us ran for safety," he said.
He said the villagers then locked themselves inside their respective homes before alerting the Civil Defence Department and Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), who arrived about 9.30am.
Perhilitan rangers later captured the clouded leopard using tranquiliser darts.