FWD: Charlie the tiger set free into Sik jungle

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This article is from thestar.com.my

URL:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2003/1/16/nation/spifree1 & sec=nation

 

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Thursday, January 16, 2003

Charlie the tiger set free into Sik jungle

BY V. CHANDRASEKARAN

 

SUNGAI PETANI: Charlie the tiger, which made headlines in the local media in the

last few days, was released on Tuesday into a jungle in Sik, more than 100km

from here.

 

Its owner, oil palm plantation owner Zaitun Arshad, and his two sons were seen

playing with their & #147;pet & #148; for about 30 minutes before it was set free.

 

 

 

The episode was witnessed by five pressmen who were & #147;specially

invited & #148; by Zaitun to give his side of the story on his controversial

& #147;pet. & #148;

 

The media team was taken to a spot in the jungle where they were showed the

tiger before it was released.

 

& #147;I have developed an attachment to the tiger and feel sad to part with

it, & #148; he said.

 

Zaitun, 50, said he had kept the tiger in another jungle nearby before it was

taken to the spot.

 

& #147;I had kept him in one of the jungles and visited him several times over

the last two days. He comes to me when I call out his name, & #148; he added.

 

The tiger, weighing about 200kg and measuring about 1.5m long, was given a hug

by Zaitun before it was released at 5.30pm. It then slowly walked into one of

the bushes in the deep jungle.

 

However, after five minutes he called to the tiger: & #147;Charlie, Charlie ...

mai sini, mai sini (Charlie, Charlie ? come here, come here). & #148;

 

Within seconds, the tiger came running towards him.

 

Zaitun also said he intends to set up a mini zoo and would apply to the

relevant authorities for a licence.

 

Zaitun and his & #147;pet & #148; went missing after reports about him keeping the

tiger in his house in Taman Chempaka 2, Bukit Selambau were published in the

newspapers on Sunday.

 

He claimed that he had caught the fully-grown tiger in a trap two weeks ago and

had since kept it in his house.

 

A state Wildlife and National Parks Department official denied Zaitun & #146;s

claim that he had applied for a permit to keep the tiger.

 

It is an offence under Section 64A of the Wildlife Protection Act to rear, hunt

or kill tigers. Offenders are liable to a RM15,000 fine or five years & #146;

jail, or both, upon conviction.

 

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