panther escapes from Johore zoo - your comments please

[Guest guest]

Can anyone help? What is the best solution to this problem? Definitely not

shooting the animal. Years ago, in Singapore zoo a tiger was shot dead after

its escape. Reason for shooting was because of the thick undergrowth

therefore a quick solution was shooting dead the tiger to prevent it from

endangering public lives. In the case of the panther, should it be shot?

Your opinion will help save the panther. Story below.

 

 

Saturday, May 25, 2002 - The Star

 

Panther on the loose in Johor Baru

By LAM LI

 

JOHOR BARU: A male black panther has been missing from the Johor Zoo here

since noon on Thursday and its trekkers have been issued a “shoot to kill”

order.

 

The panther, a recent gift from the Malacca Zoo, was missing during feeding

time and workers alerted the police and Wildlife Department who combed the

area.

 

A source said the search operations have covered the zoo compound, the

adjoining Istana Besar grounds, nearby Mahmoodiah Muslim cemetery and Hutan

Bandar in Jalan Tasik Utara.

 

These areas are said to be surrounded by many trees and bushes and are

similar to the animal's natural habitat.

 

The zoo, located in the heart of the city in Jalan Gertak Merah is next to

the Istana grounds where many city folks frequent in the mornings and

evenings for jogging and other recreational activities.

 

“The black panther does not have the tendency to attack unless provoked.

 

“However, it has been more than 24 hours since its last meal and hunger

might agitate the animal,” the source said.

 

The authorities were expected to step up search operations during the night

as the animal was usually active in the dark and liked to stay on top of

trees.

 

It is learnt that the male panther was kept within a compound surrounded by

a six-metre high concrete wall with steel bars on top.

 

The source said the authorities were also investigating scratch marks on the

concrete walls for the possibility of the animal somehow managing to climb

out.

 

However, the prospect of the animal being stolen for sale in the black

market was also being looked into.

 

The panther’s mate was safe in a cage within the same compound.

 

The panther is a protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Act.

 

The five-hectare zoo was built in 1928 by Sultan Sir Ibrahim. It underwent a

RM100,000 facelift last year.

 

 

Sunday, May 26, 2002 The Star

 

Hard to track down panther

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS and LAM LI

 

JOHOR BARU: Trackers and search teams are facing an uphill task trying to

locate a panther which escaped from the Johor Zoo on Thursday as they are

searching for the animal in unfamiliar territory – an urban jungle.

 

The sporadic patches of green areas within the city have left the search

team clueless about the whereabouts of their quarry.

 

Apart from the forested areas of the zoo, the Istana Garden, the Mahmoodiah

Muslim Cemetery and the Hutan Bandar are among the possible areas where the

black leopard could be hiding.

 

Leopards (panthera pardus) come in two shades i.e. spots and rosettes on

beige fur and all black but with the spots still visible at certain angles.

 

The latter are commonly called panthers.

The variation in colour and pattern may be a result of camouflage.

A leopard can have both spotted and black cubs.

 

The authorities are conducting a round-the-clock hunt for the big cat, which

has now been missing for more than 60 hours. As at press time, the animal

had yet to be located.

 

The dry weather has been a hindrance because members of the team have not

been able to follow its tracks.

 

Even on damp ground, the animal hardly leaves its prints due to its light

weight.

 

Johor Police Chief Deputy Commissioner Datuk Kamaruddin Md Ali said some 80

police personnel have been deployed to comb the zoo and its surrounding

areas and they have been ordered to “shoot to kill” if the situation

warranted such a move.

 

The Johor Zoo at Jalan Gertak Merah, has been closed temporarily.

 

The Malacca Zoo presented the seven-year-old panther to the zoo on May 7.

 

It escaped barely three weeks after it was brought here with a female

companion.

 

Workers realised that the panther was missing during feeding time on

Thursday.

 

They raised the alarm after seeing scratch marks on top of the six-metre

high concrete wall of the enclosure.

 

Malacca Zoo officials captured the panther in Tasik Chini, Pahang last year.

 

The beast was about 40kg the last time it was weighed and was about

180cm-long from head to tail.

 

The search operation is headed by OCPD Asst Commissioner Hashim Mohd Yusof

and comprised police, Rela, Wildlife Department, Veterinary Services

Department, Johor Baru City Council and zoo staff.

 

A team of Malacca Zoo officials, led by director Nawayai Yasak, arrived here

yesterday to assist in the operations.

 

Residents near zoo get the jitters

 

JOHOR BARU: Some 10 families who reside in the compounds of the Istana

Garden next to the Johor Zoo where a panther escaped on Thursday, are

fearing for their lives.

 

Some residents plan to move to their relatives’ homes elsewhere until the

animal is caught.

 

Palace general worker Buhari Jasmin, 40, said he was worried for his four

children aged between three and 10.

 

“Now I make sure that they do not leave my sight when they play.

 

<Picture: Star Online Pix alt>

Kamaruddin (third from left) examining the compound in the Johor Zoo

yesterday where the panther was kept.

“I have warned them against going into bushes and playing alone in the

backyard. I want to send them to a relative’s place in Gelang Patah (about

50km away) because it is difficult to keep tabs on them, especially during

the school holidays,” said Buhari who has been living on the palace grounds

for the past seven years.

 

Buhari’s family is among 10 others living at the workers’ quarters meant for

general workers of Istana Besar, the palace where official functions of the

Johor Sultan are held.

 

Student Mohd Nazri Mansur, 19, said he visits the zoo at least twice a week

to fish, adding that the leopard’s escape had not disrupted his routine.

 

“I am not afraid. Policemen are standing guard and I was told the animal has

no history of eating human beings,” he added.

 

Joggers and visitors to Istana Garden and the Johor Zoo yesterday were

surprised when police turned them away at the various entrances.

 

“Nobody told me anything when I came jogging on Friday,’’ said a jogger who

declined to be named.

 

“The panther supposedly escaped on Thursday.

 

“I hope the garden will be re-opened soon as it is the most convenient place

for recreation in the middle of the city.”

 

Banker Sharifah Azuan Syed Abdullah urged the authorities to capture the

animal without harming it as panthers are an endangered species.

 

Monday, May 27, 2002

 

Trackers closing in on panther near Johor Zoo

By LAM LI

 

JOHOR BARU: Teams searching for the panther which escaped from the Johor Zoo

on Thursday are closing in on an area next to the zoo where the animal was

sighted around 4am yesterday.

 

OCPD Asst Comm Hashim Mohd Yusof, who headed the search operations, said

trackers spotted the big cat while combing the bushes next to a compound

where some deer were kept.

 

Trackers believe that the black leopard was blocked by thick vegetation and

fencing which separates the zoo and the adjoining Istana Garden, preventing

an immediate catch.

 

“We believe the panther is hiding somewhere near the bushes as we have also

discovered traces suggesting that it has been there.

 

“We are now concentrating our resources around the compound in hope of an

early recapture,” he said.

 

The 80-strong search group comprising police, Rela, Wildlife Department and

Veterinary Services Department personnel, have been on a round-the-clock

hunt for three days, covering the zoo compound, Istana Garden, Mahmoodiah

Muslim cemetery and Hutan Bandar.

 

Trackers armed with shotguns have been issued with the shoot-to-kill order

if the situation warranted it and the zoo management has also prepared traps

to capture the animal alive.

 

It is learnt that search teams have also prepared carcasses of several goats

to be tied to trees at strategic spots to lure the panther out of hiding at

night.

 

The missing male panther arrived at the Johor Zoo together with a female

companion on May 7 as a gift from the Malacca Zoo but escaped its enclosure

by scaling a six-metre-high concrete wall on Thursday.

 

The 40kg panther left behind scratch marks and its prints near the edge of

one of the walls, with steel bars on top, suggesting it could have climbed

and jumped its way out.

 

Zoo staff only realised it had gone missing during feeding time around 10am.

 

The female panther is safely secured in a cage located in the same compound.

 

A heavy downpour yesterday afternoon was believed to have worked to the

advantage of the search team as rain cooled the surroundings and softened

the ground to register the animal’s tracks better.

 

 

Tuesday, May 28, 2002 Latest from The Star

 

Review safety measures, zoo advised

 

PETALING JAYA: The keepers of Johor Zoo, from where a male black panther

escaped on Thursday, have been advised to review their safety

measures and guidelines regarding their captive animals.

 

Science, Technology and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Law Hieng Ding

commenting on the animal’s escape said: “The management of state zoos are

under the purview of the state government, not the ministry.”

 

“But seeing that the animal has managed to escape in a few weeks after being

transferred from Malacca Zoo, Johor Zoo may have to review their whole

procedures,” he said in an interview yesterday.

 

In Johor Baru, some 60 students, camping at a school about 3km from the zoo,

claimed to have seen “a black animal of the size of a dog with a long tail”

resting on top of a nearby tree at about 3am.

 

The students, camping at SM Aminuddin Baki, alerted the authorities about

two hours after the authorities received a report from a taxi driver that he

saw the missing panther along Jalan Tasik Utara

near the RTM building, about 1km from the school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

If they can shoot him with a gun, why can they not shoot him with a

non-lethal tranquilizer gun instead? Shame on Johor Zoo. Any facility

housing wild animals is supposed to have contingency plans for dealing with

escapes, but killing the animal is not top of the list of condoned methods.

This poor panther is probably terrified of the unfamiliar surroundings.

 

 

yitze ling [yitzeling]

Tuesday, May 28, 2002 3:26 AM

aapn

panther escapes from Johore zoo - your comments please

 

Can anyone help? What is the best solution to this problem? Definitely not

shooting the animal. Years ago, in Singapore zoo a tiger was shot dead after

its escape. Reason for shooting was because of the thick undergrowth

therefore a quick solution was shooting dead the tiger to prevent it from

endangering public lives. In the case of the panther, should it be shot?

Your opinion will help save the panther. Story below.

 

 

Saturday, May 25, 2002 - The Star

 

Panther on the loose in Johor Baru

By LAM LI

 

JOHOR BARU: A male black panther has been missing from the Johor Zoo here

since noon on Thursday and its trekkers have been issued a " shoot to kill "

order.

 

The panther, a recent gift from the Malacca Zoo, was missing during feeding

time and workers alerted the police and Wildlife Department who combed the

area.

 

A source said the search operations have covered the zoo compound, the

adjoining Istana Besar grounds, nearby Mahmoodiah Muslim cemetery and Hutan

Bandar in Jalan Tasik Utara.

 

These areas are said to be surrounded by many trees and bushes and are

similar to the animal's natural habitat.

 

The zoo, located in the heart of the city in Jalan Gertak Merah is next to

the Istana grounds where many city folks frequent in the mornings and

evenings for jogging and other recreational activities.

 

" The black panther does not have the tendency to attack unless provoked.

 

" However, it has been more than 24 hours since its last meal and hunger

might agitate the animal, " the source said.

 

The authorities were expected to step up search operations during the night

as the animal was usually active in the dark and liked to stay on top of

trees.

 

It is learnt that the male panther was kept within a compound surrounded by

a six-metre high concrete wall with steel bars on top.

 

The source said the authorities were also investigating scratch marks on the

concrete walls for the possibility of the animal somehow managing to climb

out.

 

However, the prospect of the animal being stolen for sale in the black

market was also being looked into.

 

The panther's mate was safe in a cage within the same compound.

 

The panther is a protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Act.

 

The five-hectare zoo was built in 1928 by Sultan Sir Ibrahim. It underwent a

RM100,000 facelift last year.

 

 

Sunday, May 26, 2002 The Star

 

Hard to track down panther

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS and LAM LI

 

JOHOR BARU: Trackers and search teams are facing an uphill task trying to

locate a panther which escaped from the Johor Zoo on Thursday as they are

searching for the animal in unfamiliar territory - an urban jungle.

 

The sporadic patches of green areas within the city have left the search

team clueless about the whereabouts of their quarry.

 

Apart from the forested areas of the zoo, the Istana Garden, the Mahmoodiah

Muslim Cemetery and the Hutan Bandar are among the possible areas where the

black leopard could be hiding.

 

Leopards (panthera pardus) come in two shades i.e. spots and rosettes on

beige fur and all black but with the spots still visible at certain angles.

 

The latter are commonly called panthers.

The variation in colour and pattern may be a result of camouflage.

A leopard can have both spotted and black cubs.

 

The authorities are conducting a round-the-clock hunt for the big cat, which

has now been missing for more than 60 hours. As at press time, the animal

had yet to be located.

 

The dry weather has been a hindrance because members of the team have not

been able to follow its tracks.

 

Even on damp ground, the animal hardly leaves its prints due to its light

weight.

 

Johor Police Chief Deputy Commissioner Datuk Kamaruddin Md Ali said some 80

police personnel have been deployed to comb the zoo and its surrounding

areas and they have been ordered to " shoot to kill " if the situation

warranted such a move.

 

The Johor Zoo at Jalan Gertak Merah, has been closed temporarily.

 

The Malacca Zoo presented the seven-year-old panther to the zoo on May 7.

 

It escaped barely three weeks after it was brought here with a female

companion.

 

Workers realised that the panther was missing during feeding time on

Thursday.

 

They raised the alarm after seeing scratch marks on top of the six-metre

high concrete wall of the enclosure.

 

Malacca Zoo officials captured the panther in Tasik Chini, Pahang last year.

 

The beast was about 40kg the last time it was weighed and was about

180cm-long from head to tail.

 

The search operation is headed by OCPD Asst Commissioner Hashim Mohd Yusof

and comprised police, Rela, Wildlife Department, Veterinary Services

Department, Johor Baru City Council and zoo staff.

 

A team of Malacca Zoo officials, led by director Nawayai Yasak, arrived here

yesterday to assist in the operations.

 

Residents near zoo get the jitters

 

JOHOR BARU: Some 10 families who reside in the compounds of the Istana

Garden next to the Johor Zoo where a panther escaped on Thursday, are

fearing for their lives.

 

Some residents plan to move to their relatives' homes elsewhere until the

animal is caught.

 

Palace general worker Buhari Jasmin, 40, said he was worried for his four

children aged between three and 10.

 

" Now I make sure that they do not leave my sight when they play.

 

<Picture: Star Online Pix alt>

Kamaruddin (third from left) examining the compound in the Johor Zoo

yesterday where the panther was kept.

" I have warned them against going into bushes and playing alone in the

backyard. I want to send them to a relative's place in Gelang Patah (about

50km away) because it is difficult to keep tabs on them, especially during

the school holidays, " said Buhari who has been living on the palace grounds

for the past seven years.

 

Buhari's family is among 10 others living at the workers' quarters meant for

general workers of Istana Besar, the palace where official functions of the

Johor Sultan are held.

 

Student Mohd Nazri Mansur, 19, said he visits the zoo at least twice a week

to fish, adding that the leopard's escape had not disrupted his routine.

 

" I am not afraid. Policemen are standing guard and I was told the animal has

no history of eating human beings, " he added.

 

Joggers and visitors to Istana Garden and the Johor Zoo yesterday were

surprised when police turned them away at the various entrances.

 

" Nobody told me anything when I came jogging on Friday,'' said a jogger who

declined to be named.

 

" The panther supposedly escaped on Thursday.

 

" I hope the garden will be re-opened soon as it is the most convenient place

for recreation in the middle of the city. "

 

Banker Sharifah Azuan Syed Abdullah urged the authorities to capture the

animal without harming it as panthers are an endangered species.

 

Monday, May 27, 2002

 

Trackers closing in on panther near Johor Zoo

By LAM LI

 

JOHOR BARU: Teams searching for the panther which escaped from the Johor Zoo

on Thursday are closing in on an area next to the zoo where the animal was

sighted around 4am yesterday.

 

OCPD Asst Comm Hashim Mohd Yusof, who headed the search operations, said

trackers spotted the big cat while combing the bushes next to a compound

where some deer were kept.

 

Trackers believe that the black leopard was blocked by thick vegetation and

fencing which separates the zoo and the adjoining Istana Garden, preventing

an immediate catch.

 

" We believe the panther is hiding somewhere near the bushes as we have also

discovered traces suggesting that it has been there.

 

" We are now concentrating our resources around the compound in hope of an

early recapture, " he said.

 

The 80-strong search group comprising police, Rela, Wildlife Department and

Veterinary Services Department personnel, have been on a round-the-clock

hunt for three days, covering the zoo compound, Istana Garden, Mahmoodiah

Muslim cemetery and Hutan Bandar.

 

Trackers armed with shotguns have been issued with the shoot-to-kill order

if the situation warranted it and the zoo management has also prepared traps

to capture the animal alive.

 

It is learnt that search teams have also prepared carcasses of several goats

to be tied to trees at strategic spots to lure the panther out of hiding at

night.

 

The missing male panther arrived at the Johor Zoo together with a female

companion on May 7 as a gift from the Malacca Zoo but escaped its enclosure

by scaling a six-metre-high concrete wall on Thursday.

 

The 40kg panther left behind scratch marks and its prints near the edge of

one of the walls, with steel bars on top, suggesting it could have climbed

and jumped its way out.

 

Zoo staff only realised it had gone missing during feeding time around 10am.

 

The female panther is safely secured in a cage located in the same compound.

 

A heavy downpour yesterday afternoon was believed to have worked to the

advantage of the search team as rain cooled the surroundings and softened

the ground to register the animal's tracks better.

 

 

Tuesday, May 28, 2002 Latest from The Star

 

Review safety measures, zoo advised

 

PETALING JAYA: The keepers of Johor Zoo, from where a male black panther

escaped on Thursday, have been advised to review their safety

measures and guidelines regarding their captive animals.

 

Science, Technology and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Law Hieng Ding

commenting on the animal's escape said: " The management of state zoos are

under the purview of the state government, not the ministry. "

 

" But seeing that the animal has managed to escape in a few weeks after being

transferred from Malacca Zoo, Johor Zoo may have to review their whole

procedures, " he said in an interview yesterday.

 

In Johor Baru, some 60 students, camping at a school about 3km from the zoo,

claimed to have seen " a black animal of the size of a dog with a long tail "

resting on top of a nearby tree at about 3am.

 

The students, camping at SM Aminuddin Baki, alerted the authorities about

two hours after the authorities received a report from a taxi driver that he

saw the missing panther along Jalan Tasik Utara

near the RTM building, about 1km from the school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

From My experience at National Zoological Gardens.I think the zoo officals

should keep some food and water for the animal and keep a large nylon net as

a trap in different areas and they should prepare a tranquilizer pistol or a

gun and they should use Ketamine to tranquilize the animal

..The keepers should go round and as animal is familiar with them he may come

back for food .

There was an incident of stealing giant squirrel and zoo officals could not

find the thief but after some time he was caught red handed when he tried to

steal a dwarf goat.Then the zoo officers were able to find the giant

squirrel also.

I am dissapointed to hear thet Singapore zoo shot a tiger.

those officers should resign from their posts.There was a story saying the

best performing elephant from Sri Lanka zoo was given to the Singapore zoo

long time ago .It was revealed that a top zoo officer was rewarded for that

after his retired from the service.So we don`t consider Singapore zoo as a

good zoo or that officer as an animal lover.

 

>

>

>yitze ling [yitzeling]

>Tuesday, May 28, 2002 3:26 AM

>aapn

> panther escapes from Johore zoo - your comments please

>

>Can anyone help? What is the best solution to this problem? Definitely not

>shooting the animal. Years ago, in Singapore zoo a tiger was shot dead after

>its escape. Reason for shooting was because of the thick undergrowth

>therefore a quick solution was shooting dead the tiger to prevent it from

>endangering public lives. In the case of the panther, should it be shot?

>Your opinion will help save the panther. Story below.

>

>

>Saturday, May 25, 2002 - The Star

>

>Panther on the loose in Johor Baru

>By LAM LI

>

>JOHOR BARU: A male black panther has been missing from the Johor Zoo here

>since noon on Thursday and its trekkers have been issued a " shoot to kill "

>order.

>

>The panther, a recent gift from the Malacca Zoo, was missing during feeding

>time and workers alerted the police and Wildlife Department who combed the

>area.

>

>A source said the search operations have covered the zoo compound, the

>adjoining Istana Besar grounds, nearby Mahmoodiah Muslim cemetery and Hutan

>Bandar in Jalan Tasik Utara.

>

>These areas are said to be surrounded by many trees and bushes and are

>similar to the animal's natural habitat.

>

>The zoo, located in the heart of the city in Jalan Gertak Merah is next to

>the Istana grounds where many city folks frequent in the mornings and

>evenings for jogging and other recreational activities.

>

> " The black panther does not have the tendency to attack unless provoked.

>

> " However, it has been more than 24 hours since its last meal and hunger

>might agitate the animal, " the source said.

>

>The authorities were expected to step up search operations during the night

>as the animal was usually active in the dark and liked to stay on top of

>trees.

>

>It is learnt that the male panther was kept within a compound surrounded by

>a six-metre high concrete wall with steel bars on top.

>

>The source said the authorities were also investigating scratch marks on the

>concrete walls for the possibility of the animal somehow managing to climb

>out.

>

>However, the prospect of the animal being stolen for sale in the black

>market was also being looked into.

>

>The panther's mate was safe in a cage within the same compound.

>

>The panther is a protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Act.

>

>The five-hectare zoo was built in 1928 by Sultan Sir Ibrahim. It underwent a

>RM100,000 facelift last year.

>

>

>Sunday, May 26, 2002 The Star

>

>Hard to track down panther

>By MAZWIN NIK ANIS and LAM LI

>

>JOHOR BARU: Trackers and search teams are facing an uphill task trying to

>locate a panther which escaped from the Johor Zoo on Thursday as they are

>searching for the animal in unfamiliar territory - an urban jungle.

>

>The sporadic patches of green areas within the city have left the search

>team clueless about the whereabouts of their quarry.

>

>Apart from the forested areas of the zoo, the Istana Garden, the Mahmoodiah

>Muslim Cemetery and the Hutan Bandar are among the possible areas where the

>black leopard could be hiding.

>

>Leopards (panthera pardus) come in two shades i.e. spots and rosettes on

>beige fur and all black but with the spots still visible at certain angles.

>

>The latter are commonly called panthers.

>The variation in colour and pattern may be a result of camouflage.

>A leopard can have both spotted and black cubs.

>

>The authorities are conducting a round-the-clock hunt for the big cat, which

>has now been missing for more than 60 hours. As at press time, the animal

>had yet to be located.

>

>The dry weather has been a hindrance because members of the team have not

>been able to follow its tracks.

>

>Even on damp ground, the animal hardly leaves its prints due to its light

>weight.

>

>Johor Police Chief Deputy Commissioner Datuk Kamaruddin Md Ali said some 80

>police personnel have been deployed to comb the zoo and its surrounding

>areas and they have been ordered to " shoot to kill " if the situation

>warranted such a move.

>

>The Johor Zoo at Jalan Gertak Merah, has been closed temporarily.

>

>The Malacca Zoo presented the seven-year-old panther to the zoo on May 7.

>

>It escaped barely three weeks after it was brought here with a female

>companion.

>

>Workers realised that the panther was missing during feeding time on

>Thursday.

>

>They raised the alarm after seeing scratch marks on top of the six-metre

>high concrete wall of the enclosure.

>

>Malacca Zoo officials captured the panther in Tasik Chini, Pahang last year.

>

>The beast was about 40kg the last time it was weighed and was about

>180cm-long from head to tail.

>

>The search operation is headed by OCPD Asst Commissioner Hashim Mohd Yusof

>and comprised police, Rela, Wildlife Department, Veterinary Services

>Department, Johor Baru City Council and zoo staff.

>

>A team of Malacca Zoo officials, led by director Nawayai Yasak, arrived here

>yesterday to assist in the operations.

>

>Residents near zoo get the jitters

>

>JOHOR BARU: Some 10 families who reside in the compounds of the Istana

>Garden next to the Johor Zoo where a panther escaped on Thursday, are

>fearing for their lives.

>

>Some residents plan to move to their relatives' homes elsewhere until the

>animal is caught.

>

>Palace general worker Buhari Jasmin, 40, said he was worried for his four

>children aged between three and 10.

>

> " Now I make sure that they do not leave my sight when they play.

>

><Picture: Star Online Pix alt>

>Kamaruddin (third from left) examining the compound in the Johor Zoo

>yesterday where the panther was kept.

> " I have warned them against going into bushes and playing alone in the

>backyard. I want to send them to a relative's place in Gelang Patah (about

>50km away) because it is difficult to keep tabs on them, especially during

>the school holidays, " said Buhari who has been living on the palace grounds

>for the past seven years.

>

>Buhari's family is among 10 others living at the workers' quarters meant for

>general workers of Istana Besar, the palace where official functions of the

>Johor Sultan are held.

>

>Student Mohd Nazri Mansur, 19, said he visits the zoo at least twice a week

>to fish, adding that the leopard's escape had not disrupted his routine.

>

> " I am not afraid. Policemen are standing guard and I was told the animal has

>no history of eating human beings, " he added.

>

>Joggers and visitors to Istana Garden and the Johor Zoo yesterday were

>surprised when police turned them away at the various entrances.

>

> " Nobody told me anything when I came jogging on Friday,'' said a jogger who

>declined to be named.

>

> " The panther supposedly escaped on Thursday.

>

> " I hope the garden will be re-opened soon as it is the most convenient place

>for recreation in the middle of the city. "

>

>Banker Sharifah Azuan Syed Abdullah urged the authorities to capture the

>animal without harming it as panthers are an endangered species.

>

>Monday, May 27, 2002

>

>Trackers closing in on panther near Johor Zoo

>By LAM LI

>

>JOHOR BARU: Teams searching for the panther which escaped from the Johor Zoo

>on Thursday are closing in on an area next to the zoo where the animal was

>sighted around 4am yesterday.

>

>OCPD Asst Comm Hashim Mohd Yusof, who headed the search operations, said

>trackers spotted the big cat while combing the bushes next to a compound

>where some deer were kept.

>

>Trackers believe that the black leopard was blocked by thick vegetation and

>fencing which separates the zoo and the adjoining Istana Garden, preventing

>an immediate catch.

>

> " We believe the panther is hiding somewhere near the bushes as we have also

>discovered traces suggesting that it has been there.

>

> " We are now concentrating our resources around the compound in hope of an

>early recapture, " he said.

>

>The 80-strong search group comprising police, Rela, Wildlife Department and

>Veterinary Services Department personnel, have been on a round-the-clock

>hunt for three days, covering the zoo compound, Istana Garden, Mahmoodiah

>Muslim cemetery and Hutan Bandar.

>

>Trackers armed with shotguns have been issued with the shoot-to-kill order

>if the situation warranted it and the zoo management has also prepared traps

>to capture the animal alive.

>

>It is learnt that search teams have also prepared carcasses of several goats

>to be tied to trees at strategic spots to lure the panther out of hiding at

>night.

>

>The missing male panther arrived at the Johor Zoo together with a female

>companion on May 7 as a gift from the Malacca Zoo but escaped its enclosure

>by scaling a six-metre-high concrete wall on Thursday.

>

>The 40kg panther left behind scratch marks and its prints near the edge of

>one of the walls, with steel bars on top, suggesting it could have climbed

>and jumped its way out.

>

>Zoo staff only realised it had gone missing during feeding time around 10am.

>

>The female panther is safely secured in a cage located in the same compound.

>

>A heavy downpour yesterday afternoon was believed to have worked to the

>advantage of the search team as rain cooled the surroundings and softened

>the ground to register the animal's tracks better.

>

>

>Tuesday, May 28, 2002 Latest from The Star

>

>Review safety measures, zoo advised

>

>PETALING JAYA: The keepers of Johor Zoo, from where a male black panther

>escaped on Thursday, have been advised to review their safety

>measures and guidelines regarding their captive animals.

>

>Science, Technology and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Law Hieng Ding

>commenting on the animal's escape said: " The management of state zoos are

>under the purview of the state government, not the ministry. "

>

> " But seeing that the animal has managed to escape in a few weeks after being

>transferred from Malacca Zoo, Johor Zoo may have to review their whole

>procedures, " he said in an interview yesterday.

>

>In Johor Baru, some 60 students, camping at a school about 3km from the zoo,

>claimed to have seen " a black animal of the size of a dog with a long tail "

>resting on top of a nearby tree at about 3am.

>

>The students, camping at SM Aminuddin Baki, alerted the authorities about

>two hours after the authorities received a report from a taxi driver that he

>saw the missing panther along Jalan Tasik Utara

>near the RTM building, about 1km from the school.

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>

>For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature

>on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at:

>aapn

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>aapn

>

[Guest guest]

i If it is possible the best thing is to bring the mate of the panther in a

cage and keep some nylon traps and food and wait in a vehicle with a

tranqilizer gun .

The officers can tranquilize the animal as it will come to meet the mate.

Malacca Zoo, or any of us would like to see this panther killed .

They have so many methods to catch the panther and they must do them now.

Kala

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>_______________

>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.

>

>

>

>For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature

>on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at:

>aapn

>Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at

>aapn

>

[Guest guest]

Sory there was a mistrake .I am sending this message again .If you have

e.mail of a responsible person please send that so we can send requests.They

can get someone from a country nearby if the officers are not familiar with

the tranqulizing .

i If it is possible the best thing is to bring the mate of the panther in a

cage and keep some nylon traps and food and wait in a vehicle with a

tranqilizer gun .

The officers can tranquilize the animal as it will come to meet the mate.

Malacca Zoo, or any of us would not like to see this panther killed .

They have so many methods to catch the panther and they must do them now.

Kala

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>_______________

>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.

>

>

>

>For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature

>on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at:

>aapn

>Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at

>aapn

>