KUBANG PASU: Rescuing belongings during a flood is difficult enough, but saving 36 porcupines amidst rising floodwaters presents a unique challenge.
Abdul Latiff Morad, a 55-year-old licensed breeder of Malayan porcupines, managed the ordeal with the help of his 11-year-old son, Muhammad Rayyan Rizqin.
Together, they safely transported the prickly animals as floodwaters inundated their porcupine breeding farm and home in Kampung Budi, Jitra.
"This was the first time my porcupines have experienced a flood. Alhamdulillah, they handled it well, despite the stress. Even as babies, these animals come armed with sharp quills.
"Rescuing them was tricky. You need to keep them calm, or their quills can cause injury. Luckily, my son and I are experienced in handling them. We used wheelbarrows to move them to safety," Abdul Latiff said.
He described the flooding as the worst in 14 years, with water levels rising quickly and unexpectedly.
"I started breeding porcupines in 2018, and the water has never reached my farm before. I wasn't prepared for this," said the civil servant.
Fortunately, all 36 porcupines survived unscathed, now quarantined due to the flooding.
However, his 80-year-old mother's house next door was not as lucky, submerged up to knee height and in need of at least RM2,000 in repairs.
"My house is safe, so my wife, mother, and six children can return. But the farm is still underwater, so it's not safe for the animals yet. I had to spend RM1,000 on temporary cages to shelter them, but they're coping well despite the situation," he said.
Abdul Latiff now plans to invest in flood protection for his farm, given the potential losses.
"We sell porcupines both as pets and for their meat, which fetches up to RM180 per kilogramme. Each adult porcupine is worth between RM2,000 and RM3,000. Thankfully, I didn't face major losses this time, but I need to safeguard the farm for future floods."
Abdul Latiff's family is just one of over 8,400 people from seven Kedah districts displaced by the floods, with more than 40 relief centres (PPS) set up.
The worst-hit areas include Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, Pokok Sena, and Pendang.