GUA MUSANG, Feb 24: An Orang Asli man foraging for herbs for his ailing mother in the forest was injured after being attacked by a bear at Kampung Guh, Pos Tohoi, here yesterday.
The victim, 19-year-old Asmir Alang, sustained injuries to his right leg and left hand.
Gua Musang Deputy District Police Chief, DSP Azlan Che Abdullah, said preliminary investigations revealed that the victim, along with five relatives, had entered the nearby forest area to forage for herbs.
“While searching for a place to rest, they encountered two bears. The victim is believed to have panicked and climbed a tree before one of the bears, suspected to be a mother bear, bit him on his right leg and left hand.
“The victim’s friends then struck the bear, causing the animal to flee with its cub. The victim was taken to the Kuala Betis Clinic for treatment before being transferred to the Emergency Unit of Gua Musang Hospital for further medical attention,” he said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, the victim’s uncle, Eddry Chali, 41, said the group had gone into the forest to find herbs and forest produce for the injured man’s ailing mother.
They had travelled by motorcycle at 9:15 am and arrived at the location around 12 noon before being attacked by the bear, which was with its cub.
Eddry said that while the five were transporting Asmir out of the forest, they chanced upon a Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) four-wheel-drive vehicle and requested for assistance to send him to the Kuala Betis Health Clinic before he was referred to the Gua Musang Hospital.
A report has been lodged with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) on the incident.
- BERNAMA