Missing perhilitan ranger found safe. — Bernama photo
LIPIS: A Kelantan Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) ranger who went missing while collecting data on tigers in Yong Forest Reserve, Taman Negara since Aug 11, was found safe four kilometres from the base camp.
Pahang police deputy chief Datuk Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said Ahmad Tarmizi Ahmad Japli, 30, was found to be in good health but tired at about 4pm on Saturday.
“The victim was found near a stream which included in the search routes, but we failed to find him because there was no mark or sign.
“We decided to get him out of the national park today (yesterday) by taking him to the base camp which will take four hours before being airlifted using a helicopter from the Subang Fire and Rescue Department Air Unit,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
The helicopter landed at the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Clifford here at 2.05pm and Ahmad Tarmizi was taken to the Kuala Lipis Hospital for treatment.
Mohd Yusri said the two-week search and rescue operation was participated by more than 336 personnel from the police, General Operations Force, Air Operations Force, K9 Unit, Fire and Rescue Department, Forest Department as well as non-governmental organisations and the public.
It covered 40 square kilometres of the the national park area.
Meanwhile, Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said each of its rangers had been provided with ‘forest knowledge’ and survival training before they were being sent for field assignments.
“Every member has been given training, if they are lost, they are reminded to do three things, namely stay put, backtrack, or look for a river.
“That’s what Ahmad Tarmizi did, and we managed to find him safe and well yesterday (Saturday),” he said.
Ahmad Tarmizi entered the jungle on Aug 9 through Felda Kecau 11, Kuala Lipis with six other colleagues before they broke into three groups to collect data from cameras installed at several locations under the 1st National Tiger Survey programme. — Bernama