PETALING JAYA: The Kelantan Forestry Department claims that logging activities in the state did not affect its tiger population.

       Department director Abdul Khalim Abu Samah said such activities could even be good for the tiger population in the area, based on a study done by an expert from Sarawak.

       He was reported by Malay language daily Sinar Harian as saying that when logging occurred, new flora would emerge, attracting animals such as mouse deer to the area.

       “The presence of such animals would afford an easier food source for tigers when compared to thick forests,” Abdul Khalim was quoted as saying.

       Abdul Khalim said this in response to claims that the presence of tigers near several Orang Asli villages in Gua Musang were the result of excessive logging.

       Earlier, Abdul Khalim was at the site to witness an operation to eradicate illegal loggging in the Relai forest reserve in Gua Musang on Monday (Jan 24).

       The operation involved as many as 81 personnel from the Forestry Department, state Land and Mines Office, Royal Malaysia Police and Civil Defence Force.