The sighting of a black panther near a gas station located in Pengkalan Gawi, affiliated with the Kuala Berang region of Malaysia, caused great safety concern among the residents and workers in the area. The incident came to light when 40-year-old Khairul Afzan Hakimi Abdullah, who was working the night shift, confirmed it with his own observations. Khairul stated that he observed the panther resting about ten meters away from the gas station, watching its surroundings. The worker noted that the animal later disappeared towards the surrounding forested area, stating that this situation led him to stop riding his motorcycle to work due to concerns for his own safety. Khairul, who lives in Kampung Basung, expressed that he usually preferred to ride a motorcycle because of the short distance between his home and workplace, but he is now afraid to make this journey.
Khairul, who stated that he has frequently seen big cats along the Jalan Bukit Sipul route while commuting between home and work in the region for the last four years, emphasized that this is not a new phenomenon but that one must always be careful. The worker said that these animals have never harmed or disturbed the local people or passersby so far, but he believes that people should remain alert against the possibility of unexpected events. Khairul's experiences reveal how rich the region is in terms of wildlife and how intertwined the living spaces of humans and wild animals are. With this incident, it has been understood once again that journeys made especially during night hours and activities carried out in open areas carry risks. This situation serves as a wake-up call that has caused the local community to reconsider their daily routines and transportation habits.
Another worker working in the Pengkalan Gawi area, 50-year-old Abdul Ghani Rahman, stated that he experienced a similar incident and encountered a group of animals believed to be black panthers along with a coworker last week. According to Abdul Ghani, exactly five panthers were seen moving together before they all disappeared into the forested area. The fact that the animals were roaming in this group stands out as a striking detail in terms of the region's biodiversity. Abdul Ghani stated that the panthers neither approached them nor displayed any aggressive behavior, emphasizing that they had no intention of harming humans. However, the sighting of more than one predatory animal at the same time significantly increased the anxiety level of the local people.
After the footage of the black panther went viral on social media and spread rapidly, the issue also attracted the attention of the authorities, and teams from the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) were dispatched to the area. A local resident named 45-year-old Roslan Abdullah stated that the authorities conducted comprehensive investigations and checks in the area immediately after arriving at the scene. As a result of preliminary investigations, the authorities concluded that the animal did not permanently settle in the area and most likely only used it as a transit route. Because the area is very close to a forest reserve, experts think the animal may have returned to its natural habitat or may have temporarily lost its way. Although the authorities' findings that the animal has left the area have partially alleviated the fear and panic among the public, the seriousness of the situation continues to be debated.
Despite the authorities focusing on the possibility of the animal leaving the area, Roslan Abdullah issued a warning that people conducting fieldwork in open areas such as fields, gardens, or construction sites in the region need to be extremely careful and vigilant. The panic experienced by the local people after watching the viral video on social media clearly demonstrated how rapidly modern communication tools amplify such wildlife events and shape public opinion. The footage taken in front of the gas station in Pengkalan Gawi was instrumental in local residents becoming more proactive about increasing security measures among themselves and sharing information mutually. Observing natural life so closely and in such a dangerously perceptible manner reminds us of how worthy of protection Malaysia's rich biodiversity is, but also how risky it can be for human safety. In order to prevent such incidents from recurring or resulting in an accident in the future, the relevant institutions are expected to increase periodic patrols in the region and continue necessary public awareness activities.
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