DUNGUN: One of the two tigers spotted roaming around Kampung Besul Lama in Bukit Besi, here, since yesterday has been caught.
The tiger, weighing approximately 130kg was shot with a tranquiliser dart at about 3.30pm by a team from the Terengganu Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan).
The team spotted the tiger resting in some bushes within a jungle, about 500 metres away from the village.
Terengganu Perhilitan director Dr Abdul Malik Mohd Yusof said the tiger that was captured was identified as the same animal seen roaming in the village since yesterday, based on its height and stripe pattern.
"When our officers and members were patrolling in the jungle, some 500 metres from the village's main road, they found the Harimau Malaya (the tiger's species) resting in some bushes.
"Our team installed a tranquiliser dart and shot at the tiger, causing it to drop. They left it there for a while before lifting it up and placing it in a cage.
"The tiger was then taken to a surau in Kampung Besul temporarily, before it will be transported to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre (NWRC) in Sungkai, Perak," he said when met at the location after joining a team of 22 tasked with capturing the two tigers.
Abdul Malik said the tiger was then bathed to wake it up after being sedated.
He said the team was broken into three groups and it was one of these groups that found the tiger.
The operation continues to track down the second tiger.
"Based on complaints from villagers, they claim there is another tiger that entered the village yesterday.
"Therefore our operations will not stop here and we will continue to track down the other tiger until we find it. We would also like to thank the villagers who gave their cooperation to ensure this operation runs smoothly today," he said.
Villagers here were shocked when they spotted two tigers roaming about yesterday.
Several villagers endured close encounters with the tigers however no untoward incidents have been reported.