The tapir is a curious-looking mammal that looks like it might be related to the pig, but it is actually closer to the horse.

All four known species of the tapir are endangered and this is largely due to deforestation as well as overhunting by humans. The World Tapir day is celebrated on April 27 every year to remind us of our obligation to remedy the situation.

The Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) is the largest of the four species and is native to Asia. It is found mostly in Peninsular Malaysia as well as in Thailand and Sumatra, Indonesia.

The other three tapir species are the mountain tapir (Tapirus pichaque), the South American or lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) and Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii), which is mostly found in Central America and the northern parts of South American.

One of the main threats facing the tapir population is the depletion of habitats as the country is losing more of its forest cover to make way for roads, housing, farming activities and other development projects.

Roadkill

However, in Malaysia, another tragic reason for the dwindling Malayan tapir population is road accidents.

Malaysian roads sometimes cut across foraging areas and as a result, wildlife would have to cross roads in search of food or better habitats. These incidents often occur late at night or early in the morning.

Three tapirs have been killed in road accidents this year, as of March 2018. In 2017, 22 tapirs became roadkill, a slightly over two-fold increase from 10 in 2016.

According to the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) records, there are currently less than 1,500 tapirs in Peninsular Malaysia.

For the record, 73 tapirs have been killed in road accidents involving 61 road and highway networks in Peninsular Malaysia from 2010 through 2017.

States that record the highest number of tapir accidents are Terengganu, with the highest number of accidents taking place at the LPT2 (28 cases) over the seven-year period. This is followed by Pahang with 20 cases, Johor (11), Negeri Sembilan (7), Selangor (5) and Kelantan (5).

Five routes that have proven deadly for Malaysian wildlife are Jalan Kuala Lipis-Gua Musang, Jalan Kulai-Kota Tinggi, Jalan Gua Musang-Kuala Krai, Lebuh Raya Pantai Timur 2 (LPT2) and Jalan Taiping-Selama.

A total of 144 routes have been identified as hotspots for wildlife crossings. The routes cut through forests in Selangor, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Johor, Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu.

Warning signages

Jungles and forests are the natural habitats of tapirs but such areas have shrunken a lot over the years due to development projects or become fragmented, causing the crowding out of tapirs.

The largely nocturnal animal typically starts foraging for food late evening and continues until the early morning.

According to the assistant senior director of Perhilitan’s Biodiversity Conservation Division (Tapir) Muhamad Bokhari Fadzin, the construction of roads and highways often cause the tapir wilderness area to “split into half”.

That is why the animal was often seen crossing roads and highways, he added.

The Malayan tapir has a light-coloured patch that extends from its shoulders to the rear end of its black body, meant to camouflage itself from predators.

However, its physical appearance also makes it difficult for motorists to spot it in the dark of the night and on foggy mornings.

“Accidents usually happen because motorists lack the awareness to slow down their vehicles when approaching wilderness crossing areas. This is why there are many accidents involving tapirs of late,” he told Bernama in an interview recently.

Perhilitan and the Public Works Department have worked together to identify wildlife crossing areas across the peninsula and erect signs to warn motorists to slow down and be wary when traversing those routes.

In the Mersing and Lenggor Forest Reserves in Johor, speed bumps and warning lights have been placed along routes often used by tapirs.

High population in Negeri Sembilan

The tapir population distribution survey conducted by Perhilitan has revealed that the forest reserves around Negeri Sembilan contain a high population of tapirs, making them important habitats for the endangered mammal.

The Kenaboi, Jelebu, Ulu Bendu and Senaling Inas forest reserves are among the places where their habitats are located.

Tapirs are also found in the Belum Forest Reserve in Perak, the Pahang National Park, the Bukit Bauk Forest Reserve in Terengganu and along the LPT2.

“The tapir population can still be found in forest reserves, wildlife reserves and by the edge of the jungles in Peninsular Malaysia.

"Perhilitan has always been strict in its enforcement duties to ensure the tapir population is stable despite the threat of poachers and road accidents,” said Muhamad Bokhari, adding that the tapir is protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.

In addition to external threats, the slow reproductive rate of tapirs also contributes to its declining population.

Tapirs reproduce slower than most mammals with pregnancies lasting as long as 14 months. Each pregnancy produces one calf, which stays with its mother for 12 to 18 months.

Malaysians must pay strict attention to the threat against the Malayan tapir lest the species become extinct as how the Sumatran rhinoceros recently did.

Muhammad Bokari told Bernama that a tapir conservation programme would call for extensive research on the species’ ecology, behaviour, feeding, breeding and nutrition.

Among such efforts by Perhilitan is the setting up of the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre in Selangor.

It is also forming the Malayan Tapir Conservation Action Plan for more specific conservation efforts for the 10-year period of between 2017 and 2026.

- Bernama