Residents point to tracks
left by a big cat they suspect to be a Asian Black Panther, also known
as a Melanistic Leopard.
Patcharapol Panrak
A suspected panther attack has residents of a rural Rayong
community nervous watching their livestock after a wild animal killed
two pigs in Wangjan District.
Sukum Narknuan, 50, claimed he saw a black panther attacking a pig in
his Prasae Reservoir-area pen Oct. 3. He said he saw the cat with its
teeth in the young pig’s neck, but that it fled when he shined a light
on it. The swine suffered fatal wounds and was slaughtered and sold. A
second hog also sustained deep scratch wounds.
The pig farmer said he reported the attack to the Seeraman Forest
Protection Unit at the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, urging them
to take steps to protect villagers who work at night in nearby rubber
forests. He also patched up his fence to keep the pigs safer.
Rubber tapper Bunterng Sukpat, 48, said he thought a large wild dog was
behind recent attacks on local chickens. Hearing it may have been a
panther made him and other rubber workers nervous, he said.
Chatree Charoensuk, principal at Ban Nong Muang
School, said there have been stories about two panthers, a mother and
cub, in the area eating dogs, chickens and monkeys at a temple in Nong
Muang. After finding signs of a big cat near the school, officials have
taken steps to protect children.
Phitak Yingyong, chief of the Seeraman Forest Protection Unit, confirmed
the monkey kill and panther tracks near the school. Two sets of tracks
were found. Officers, he said, are now preparing to try and capture the
big cats.
