Pictures courtesy of Daily News

 

Rangers from Bang Lang National Park in Yala are investigating tiger tracks found near a local rubber plantation, prompting increased safety measures for nearby residents. The sightings, believed to be from a Malayan tiger, have caused concern among villagers who work in the area. Authorities are patrolling the plantation to monitor the tiger’s movements and reassure the community.

 

On 2 November 2025, Mr Harong Basso, head of Bang Lang National Park’s protection unit at BL.3 (Chulabhorn Phatthana 10), led a team of rangers and local volunteer protection officers from Than Nam Thip subdistrict, Betong district, to inspect the site. The tracks were first reported by villagers in Moo 2, Ban Bate Tue Nga, roughly one kilometre from the local protection unit’s base and three kilometres from the Thai-Malaysian border. During the patrol, the team discovered one footprint approximately seven inches wide, with two more found 20 metres away.

 

Local resident Mr Chumphon Phanta, who first spotted the tracks while travelling to the plantation at 05:00, described noticing unusually large animal prints. He reported that chickens on his property were unusually quiet the morning before, suggesting the tiger had passed nearby. Mr Chumphon said he would temporarily avoid entering the plantation until authorities confirm the tiger’s presence and track any new prints.

 

Mr Harong confirmed that the prints belong to a tiger and patrols are ongoing to determine the animal’s movements. Tracking efforts near the Malaysian border have been complicated by hard ground, making footprints difficult to detect and showing no signs of prey drag marks. The area has previously seen Malayan tigers crossing from Malaysia and authorities are monitoring to see if this tiger has returned across the border.

 

Officials plan to investigate similar footprints reported in a neighbouring village to confirm they belong to the tiger. The presence of rangers and patrols aims to provide reassurance to locals and ensure they can safely continue their work in the plantations.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Tiger tracks, likely from a Malayan tiger, were found near a Yala rubber plantation.

• Rangers and local protection units are actively patrolling to monitor the animal’s movements.

• Authorities aim to reassure villagers and confirm whether the tiger remains in the area.

 

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  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Dailynews 2025-11-03

 

 

 

 

15 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Authorities aim to reassure villagers and confirm whether the tiger remains in the area.

 

Scary!

Totally cool. I hope they work with the villagers to keep it and them safe.

 

ProTip: paint big eyes on the back of your hat

1 hour ago, watchcat said:

 

Scary!

Yes, scary for the Tiger, now everybody knows here is an endangered Malayan Tiger in Bang Lang Ntl Park in Yala, hunters are already loading up the trucks.  Hope it escapes into Burma.

That's a big puddy-cat

3 hours ago, Explorator en Actione said:

Yes, scary for the Tiger, now everybody knows here is an endangered Malayan Tiger in Bang Lang Ntl Park in Yala, hunters are already loading up the trucks.  Hope it escapes into Burma.

It's a bloody long way to Burma! Take the train or hitch hike?

23 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The area has previously seen Malayan tigers crossing from Malaysia and authorities are monitoring to see if this tiger has returned across the border.

 

There was a tiger on the gold project I worked on in Pahang, Malaysia, we'd come across its pug marks very occasionally, usually tracking wild pigs or tapir. Wisely, they try and stay well clear of humans, in the three years I was working there I never saw the tiger, only the paw prints.

 

On 11/3/2025 at 3:40 PM, Georgealbert said:

monitoring to see if this tiger has returned across the border.

 

 

To escape Ital-Thai game hunters?

On 11/3/2025 at 9:40 AM, Georgealbert said:

The area has previously seen Malayan tigers crossing from Malaysia and authorities are monitoring to see if this tiger has returned across the border.

 

See the dangerous stuff that gets into the country with visa exempt? Make him get a tourist visa then the TM 30'll tell them where s/he's hiding.

On 11/4/2025 at 8:21 AM, Explorator en Actione said:

Yes, scary for the Tiger, now everybody knows here is an endangered Malayan Tiger in Bang Lang Ntl Park in Yala, hunters are already loading up the trucks.  Hope it escapes into Burma.

Burma is a pretty long way from Yala. LOL

12 hours ago, MarcelV said:

Burma is a pretty long way from Yala. LOL

Oh Snap! I meant Malaysia, tx for the brain tickle

On 11/3/2025 at 6:49 PM, Stocky said:

It's a bloody long way to Burma! Take the train or hitch hike?

Numbah Two to point it out, I meant Malaysia   Tks for the wakeup call.

Perhaps we now know what happened to Jim Thompson when he disappeared in the jungle.