Perhilitan director-general Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the head was found at 1.56pm, during an inspection of a shop-house in Kuala Terla, as part of a special operation.

“The inspection was carried out at a shop-house in Kuala Terla, Cameron Highlands, after we received intelligence.

“Authorities discovered the animal head, believed to be from a panther, wrapped in a blue plastic bag and stored in a freezer at the premises,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

Kadir said the department seized the animal head, along with the freezer, all valued at around RM115,000.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the animal’s body part, he said.

He added that three men, aged 38, 65, and 68, had been arrested and taken to the Cameron Highlands police headquarters for further investigation under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.