SOME 100 families in Taman Tanjung housing estate, here, are worried about their safety as an increasing number of wild animals are lurking in the 20ha jungle next to the area.
The animals, which include wild boars, monkeys, monitor lizards, pythons and other reptiles, are scavenging through trash bins and entering the houses to look for food.
One of the residents, who wished to be known only as Tan, urged Muar Municipal Council (MPM) to clear the jungle immediately to prevent these animals from frightening and biting their children.
He said the rainy season had caused many of the animals to enter house compounds.
Tan said a 80kg wild boar had dashed across the road last month and tried to enter a house but it returned to the jungle when residents shouted at it.
About 300 students use the road to reach their schools daily while hundreds of residents use it as a shortcut to go to Jalan Junid and other areas.
He said he often sighted monitor lizards as big as adult crocodiles crawling along the road and monkeys, some hugging their young, swinging from tree to tree.
Tan said scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, earthworms, rodents and snakes often enter the houses and hide under doormats, carpets and in dark corners.
“Housewives are often bitten by insects when they mop the floor,” he said.
Tan said six hunters shot eight wild boars in the jungle about 30 years back.
Taman Tanjung was developed 70 years ago.
MPM deputy whip Chris Lee Ching Yong said he had received many complaints from the residents.
He advised them to spray the compounds of their houses with repellents to stop insects from entering.
Lee also called on the Health Department to look into the problems faced by residents and to prevent outbreaks of diseases transmitted by these creatures.
Council president Ramlee Abdul Rahman said he had directed his officers to investigate the complaints and take action.