The tiger was found at a Felda oil palm plantation near Dungun. Wildlife officers and the National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Perak took four hours in the operation.

Nik Mohd Zamani Awang of the rescue centre said the male tiger, estimated to be between 14 and 16 years old, weighed over 160kg. It was caught after being shot with a tranquilliser dart.

“Checks found that the tiger was injured as there were three gunshot wounds at his hind legs believed to be caused by irresponsible parties. The tiger will be moved to the rescue centre in Sungkai, Perak, for treatment and further observation,” he said when contacted by reporters today.

The tiger was found around 3km from where it was discovered by villagers. It was exhausted from the injuries it suffered.

Two videos of the wounded tiger, each lasting 29 and 54 seconds, had earlier gone viral on social media and were believed to have been recorded by Indonesian plantation workers who stumbled upon the animal.

Terengganu wildlife director Abdul Malek Mohd Yusof did not rule out the possibility that the tiger was responsible for prior attacks on cattle owned by Felda settlers.