ALOR GAJAH: A farmer was devastated after discovering that six of his goats had been killed, believed to have been attacked by a leopard (Panthera pardus) in Kampung Bukit Tampoi on Saturday (Oct 19).
The incident came to light when the farmer, Ab Razak Ab Rahim, 34, found the carcasses of the goats in his garden around 10am.
Alor Gajah police chief Superintendent Ashari Abu Samah said the farmer reported the incident at the Alor Gajah district police headquarters at 2.15pm the same day.
He said the farmer is a full-time goat breeder who has been raising 13 goats since 2022.
"The farmer indicated that upon arriving at the pen, he found five goats dead and another approximately 200 meters away from the pen.
"This is the first such incident, and the farmer suspects the involvement of a wild animal, specifically a leopard, and filed a report for further action by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan)," he said in a statement yesterday.
Meanwhile, Melaka Perhilitan Director Petra Sulai confirmed that a team investigated the site of the incident at 9am following the farmer's report regarding the leopard attack.
He stated that initial investigations confirmed that six goats had indeed died due to the attack.
"However, we found no signs or tracks at the scene, as the carcasses had already been disposed of by the owner.
"The farmer has also relocated the remaining goats to another village, and our investigation revealed that there are no forest reserves nearby," he said.
He added that further investigations will continue, including the installation of camera traps to identify the species involved and setting up traps for leopards at the location today.