Controversy Surrounding the Use of Puppies as Bait to Capture Black Panthers in Malaysia

The Malaysian Wildlife Department has recently come under scrutiny for its decision to use puppies as live bait in an attempt to capture black panthers that had been spotted near a village in southern Negeri Sembilan state. The use of live animals as bait has sparked outrage from Animal rights groups, who argue that there are more ethical and humane methods for dealing with the situation. This article explores the controversy surrounding the use of puppies as bait and the perspectives on both sides of the issue.

In September, villagers in southern Negeri Sembilan state were terrified after a panther was spotted near their homes. The situation escalated when a panther mauled a dog at a fruit orchard in the state, prompting villagers to complain to the Wildlife Department. This incident marked the beginning of a controversial operation to capture the panthers.

In response to the villagers’ complaint, the Wildlife Department installed traps to capture the panthers. The decision to use puppies as live bait was made after previous attempts, such as using a goat, had failed. Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, the Director General of the Wildlife Department, defended this approach, stating that it is considered “standard procedure” to use live animals to lure elusive wildlife. He emphasized that the puppies were not physically harmed during the process and were swiftly released once the panther was captured.

The Wildlife Department reported successfully capturing three panthers in the operation conducted on 18 September, 27 September, and 1 October. Negeri Sembilan Chief Minister Aminuddin Harun mentioned that the captured panthers appeared to be healthy, though it remains unclear whether they were released back into the forest.

The Wildlife Department’s justification for using puppies as bait was based on the panther’s previous attacks on dogs in the area. According to Abdul Kadir, the scent and barking of the puppies were used to attract the panther. However, the decision to use puppies was also influenced by the size of the trap, which was not suitable for adult dogs.

The use of puppies as live bait has been met with significant opposition from Animal rights groups, including the Stray Animal Association and the Animal Care Society. They argue that the Wildlife Department should have used alternative, more ethical methods, such as raw cattle meat, to capture the panthers. These groups have urged the government to discontinue the use of live animals in such operations.

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