BANDAR PERMAISURI: A logger escaped death after being attacked by a sun bear in Kampung Tok Dor, Ajil, near Hulu Terengganu.
Mohd Syukri Zakaria, 39, lived to tell what saved him from the scary incident that occurred on Feb 1.
The logging supervisor said in the 8am incident, he and his friend were about to start fixing a broken water pipe when they heard a strange noise.
He said a few minutes later he saw a sun bear came out of a nearby bush and charged at him, knocking him to the ground.
“My friend managed to escape but I was unable to do so because the bear had grabbed me. As I hit the ground, the animal slammed its head into my face and bit my left shoulder.
“I couldn’t do anything except to chant the takbir. The bear suddenly stopped attacking me and ran back into the bush after I chanted the takbir three times.
“I then walked for 20 minutes to a kongsi house near the logging area to seek help,” he told Bernama when met at his home in Kampung Pelong here yesterday.
He said the mauling, which lasted for about five minutes, resulted in him being warded for five days at Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah in Kuala Terengganu where he received seven stitches in his face.
He was also treated for injuries to his left shoulder.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Loo Kean Seong, when contacted, confirmed receiving a report about the incident on Feb 2.
He said investigations found that prior to the incident, the sun bear was chasing after a dog in the forest.
Loo advised the public against acting provocatively if they come across wild animals and to call the nearest Perhilitan office.