POH: An orang asli man was saved from being mauled by a tiger when his wife charged at the animal and whacked it on the head with a ladle.
Tambun Gediu, who is in his 60s, was hunting for squirrels near his village in the Gerik Belum Forest Reserve when the 90kg tiger pounced on him.
His wife Han Besou, 55, who was 10m away, charged at the tiger and hit it on the head with the wooden ladle, causing it to run off in the 8am incident on Saturday.
[Image: http://thestar.com.my/archives/2011/2/14/nation/n_3tambun.jpg]
Tambun of Sungai Tiang Orang Asli Village said he was hunting for squirrels when the tiger began following him.
He was about to use his blowpipe when he heard some rustling in the bushes and saw the tiger charge at him.
“My first instinct was to climb a tree but the tiger pounced and started clawing me,†he recalled. “I had to use all my force to push the tiger’s mouth away from my face while shouting for help,†he said.
Han Besou came to his rescue upon hearing his screams.
[Image: http://thestar.com.my/archives/2011/2/14/nation/n_3hurt.jpg]
Tambun suffered wounds on his knees, head and neck. After treatment at the Grik Hospital on Saturday evening, he was transferred to Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun early yesterday morning.
It was the first time anyone in the village had been attacked by a tiger.
Perak Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, who visited Tambun at the hospital with state Wildlife and National Parks Department director Shabrina Mohd Shariff, said Tambun underwent a minor surgery yesterday afternoon to clean the wounds.
â€His condition is stable,†he said.
Shabrina said the department had wanted to track the animal down but could only do so once the police had issued a permit.
She said after it had been located, her men would chase the tiger farther into the jungle.
The department expects to get the permit today.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/2/14/nation/8059599&sec=nation