KOTA BARU: Images of logging at a tiger habitat located near an Orang Asli village in Gua Musang have been captured by a drone, claims an environmental activist.

       Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa) adviser Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman said the images were recorded between Jan 10 and 14, after a drone was flown over the Perias forest reserve in Gua Musang, about 1km from Pos Bihai.

       "Last week, the Kelantan Mentri Besar said tiger attacks at the Pos Bihai Orang Asli settlement, which killed one person, were not caused by logging.

       "Recently, we went to the scene of the incident and sent in a drone.

       "We believe there are massive logging activities taking place near the village," Meor Razak was quoted as saying by Malay daily Sinar Harian on Monday (Jan 17).

       Images captured by the drone were also uploaded on Kuasa's official Twitter account on Sunday (Jan 16).

       Meor Razak, who is also a field researcher for Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), said the Perias forest reserve is the biggest tiger habitat in Kelantan.

       "Tigers used to be afraid of humans, but not any more. Maybe they have been pushed to desperation by habitat loss.

       "Not far from the village, it is believed that logging is taking place for the purpose of opening a 400ha rubber plantation in the Perias reserve," he said.

       On Jan 7, an Orang Asli man was mauled to death by a tiger in Kampung Sau near Pos Bihai.

       On Jan 12, the Kelantan government denied claims that logging in the state had forced tigers out of their natural habitat and into Orang Asli settlements in Gua Musang.

       Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said a study should be conducted by relevant parties to determine the factors that caused the mammals to leave their natural habitat.