ALOR GAJAH: Residents of Kampung Tanjung Bidara, Masjid Tanah, were shocked when a bull intended for Aidiladha sacrificial rites escaped and vanished into the sea at Tanjung Bidara beach last night.
The incident, which occurred around 9.30pm, quickly went viral after videos and photos of villagers and Civil Defence Force (APM) members searching the beach area were shared on social media.
An eyewitness, Muhammad Fahmi Abdullah, 28, said he initially didn’t think much of it when he saw the bull swimming in the sea in front of his food stall.
“Not long after I went into my stall, I heard people shouting. Then one of the villagers asked if I had seen a missing bull.
“I said ‘yes’, and we went to look for it. The bull was still in the sea with a rope around its neck.
“But no one dared to approach it because it was aggressive and quite large,” he said.
He added that he contacted the APM for help in capturing the animal, but the bull disappeared when the rescue team arrived.
“It probably drowned out of fear upon seeing the crowd. Also, the shoreline is lined with large rocks, making it difficult for the animal to come ashore.
“Villagers searched with torches and even took their boats out, but it wasn’t found. After the Aidiladha prayers, the search resumed, but there was still no sign of the bull.
“This is the first time something like this has happened in our village,” he said.
Meanwhile, Masjid Tanah Civil Defence Officer Lieutenant (PA) Noor Jauzi Hashim said the department received a call at 9.42pm and immediately dispatched one officer and three APM members to the location for a rescue operation.
“However, attempts to locate the bull failed after searching the surrounding area.
“According to witnesses, the bull was believed to have been swept away by the current and disappeared,” he said when contacted.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
