Malaysia is blessed with a 130 million-year-old rainforest, which is also one of the oldest rainforests in the world!
… and what’s even more amazing, is the hundreds of species habiting our rainforests, such as the Malayan tigers, orangutans, hornbills and the iconic Malayan tapir that is loved by all Malaysians!
Photo via The Asean Post
We can all definitely agree that the Malayan tapir is adorable!
They kind of look like a hippopotamus from one angle, and sometimes, almost like a pig when you tilt your head a little. But actually, the tapir’s’ closest living relatives are actually rhinoceros and horses!
According to The Asean Post, they have been around since the Eocene period, which was about 33 to 56 million years ago and have survived waves of extinction as opposed to other animals. How cool is that!
In 2008, the conservation status of tapirs was elevated from vulnerable to “endangered” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species.
The main threat to the Malayan tapirs is human activity such as deforestation for agriculture, floods caused by the damming of rivers and illegal animal trade, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In Malaysia, this iconic animal is protected under the Wildlife Act 2010, however, its population is still decreasing rapidly in the country due to the loss of their habitat, and in recent years - roadkill.
Johor recorded three tapirs that were found dead in just a span of one month. According to Malaysia’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), 2,444 wild animals died as a result of roadkill in 2017- despite the many signboards warning drivers of wildlife crossings.
Photo via New Straits Times
There have also been reports of Malayan tapirs being accidentally killed by hunters and poachers. These animals have very poor eyesight which makes them very vulnerable to traps and snares, compared to any other animal.
The Malayan tapirs also reproduce slower than most mammals with each pregnancy lasting as long as 14 months, which makes the task of conserving this animal a definite challenge!
But not to worry, Malaysia is doing its best to protect this animal as PERHILITAN has announced their plan to build Malaysia’s first tapir conservation centre, which focuses on the tapir’s breeding programme and rehabilitation.
So if you’re driving and you see the ‘wildlife crossing’ sign boards, please slow down because you might save a monkey, a wild boar or a tapir’s life!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
