The Terengganu Department of Wildlife and National Parks today dismissed as untrue a viral report on social media of a tiger on the prowl in the recreational forest in Setiu.

Its director, Mohd Hasdi Husin, said the department had not received any report on the matter.

"I hope the people will not be easily influenced by the viral report as it will only trigger panic," he said when contacted by Bernama.

The viral report carried a photograph of a tiger by a river, alleged to be in Bukit Kesing, Sungai Tong.

Mohd Hasdi said animals such as tigers usually looked for rivers or water-logged areas to cool down, but the tiger in the viral report was definitely not in Setiu.