3 men in Johor arrested after tiger carcass found in car boot

Three men, aged between 28 and 49, were arrested in Johor, Malaysia after a tiger carcass was found in a car on Sep. 16.

According to The Star, authorities from the Bukit Aman Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) and the Johor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) caught the men without relevant permits after a raid in Mersing.

Tiger believed to be poached

The Malayan tiger, believed to be illegally hunted, was found with multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

The arrest was made after local authorities received a tip-off from the public, reported Bernama.

Officers conducted checks on a Perodua Alza vehicle and discovered the dead tiger in the car boot.

The three men were arrested after being unable to present a valid permit for the possession or keeping of the fully protected species.

The car, along with four mobile phones, have also been seized for further investigations.

FRU commander Rosli Md Yusof said in a statement: "The Malayan tiger is a priceless national treasure. Its loss due to human greed is a betrayal of our heritage."

He affirmed the department's commitment to "combating illegal hunting", calling it a duty to ensure sustainability for future generations.

Suspects in remand

All three men and items were taken to the Mersing district police headquarters for documentation and follow-up action under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.

Johor Perhilitan director Aminuddin Jamin has confirmed that investigations are underway.

The case is being probed under Section 70 of the Act, which prohibits keeping wildlife without a special permit.

Top photos via Pasukan Simpanan Persekutuan/Facebook