Signboard on the Central Spine Road in Raub, Pahang, notifying motorists to keep watch for tapirs that may be crossing the road. — FARID WAHAB/The Star
A FURTHER decline in population of the Malayan tapir could pose a serious threat to the country’s natural ecosystem.
This warning from wildlife activists and conservationists was made after news surfaced that the species is rapidly vanishing in Peninsular Malaysia.
As of 2020, the animals, known by the scientific name Tapirus indicus, have dwindled to as few as 700 to 800 as reported by StarMetro on June 17.
This is roughly half the estimate of between 1,100 and 1,500 tapirs documented by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) in 2013.
Central Forest Spine, which comprises several forest complexes running along the peninsula’s backbone, is a known habitat for Malayan tapirs. — Courtesy photo
Interest groups cite increased development projects in recent decades for causing disruptions within forests, as among reasons for the worrying trend.
They are urging the authorities to address the issue swiftly, in view of the tapir’s crucial role in sustaining Malaysia’s biodiversity.
Divided jungle
Tapirs largely exist in the peninsula’s Central Forest Spine, inhabiting primary and secondary tropical rainforests.
As of 2022, the peninsula recorded 5.72 million hectares of forest, according to data on the Forestry Department’s website.
Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre in Hulu Selangor conducts conservation and rehabilitation efforts of tapirs. - Filepic
This figure has remained unchanged since 2011, with Pahang having the largest forest coverage at over two million hectares.
This was followed by Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor, Kedah, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Perlis.
Penang, Melaka and Kuala Lumpur recorded less than 10,000ha of forested area (see graphic: Forest cover by states in Peninsular Malaysia).
However, activists say massive land clearing to facilitate highway construction and housing developments have fragmented forests.
Mageswari says forest fragmentation has reduced food sources in the jungle.
Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia president Andrew Sebastian said several highway projects had created pockets of isolated forests.
“This usually occurs at lowland forests where demand for connectivity is high, though some highways do cut across the highlands too.
“The East-West Highway and the Central Spine Road are among highways that pass through both the lowlands and highlands,” he said.
The East-West Highway is a 130km road linking Jeli in Kelantan with Gerik in Perak, and stretches over the Bintang Range and Titiwangsa Range.
Community rangers comprise Orang Asli, army and police veterans tasked with keeping watch on illegal activities in Malaysian forests. — Photo courtesy of MNS
The Central Spine Road is a 340km thoroughfare along the Titiwangsa Range connecting Kuala Krai (Kelantan) with Kuala Pilah (Negri Sembilan).
Land clearing to make way for farming and mining activities has also contributed to fragmentation, further jeopardising the survival prospect of tapirs.
Andrew said animals in fragmented forests were at higher risk of genetic defects and lowered resistance to diseases.
A tapir wandering out of the jungle and into Felcra Sungai Ara in Kota Tinggi, Johor, in 2020. — Filepics
“Such forests offer less space to roam, reducing mating options and increasing the potential for inbreeding.
“Over time, this will lead to reduced genetic diversity, which may cause the species to become more prone to diseases,” he added.
Although yet to be observed among tapirs, Andrew said several species were already showing effects of this phenomenon.
He said albino snakes and deer had been discovered in Malaysian forests, where the mutation might indicate a compromised gene pool.
Increasing numbers of tapirs are involved in fatal road crashes each year. (Right) A tapir wandering out of the jungle and into Felcra Sungai Ara in Kota Tinggi, Johor, in 2020. — Filepics
Sahabat Alam Malaysia honorary secretary Mageswari Sangaralingam said fragmentation had reduced food supply in the jungle.
“As a result, more tapirs venture out of forests to forage for food, causing more conflicts with humans,” she said.
“Some animals get lost and find themselves in the middle of roads, contributing to increased roadkills in recent years.”
The June 17 report also touched on roadkill incidents on a steady rise, from nine cases in 2018 to 23 in 2021.
There was also a corresponding rise in conflicts with humans recorded in that period, from 29 cases to 67.
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) conservation division head Donovan Louis said fragmentation contributed to poor ecology and higher risks of soil erosion.
“This may disrupt the food chain,” he said, adding that this would alter the balance in the ecosystem.
Vital function
Due to their nature to disperse seed, Malayan tapirs are also known as “forest farmers” among the scientific community.
These animals are frugivores, according to Louis, as they preferred to eat a wide variety of fruits, as well as plants.
“They are known to travel great distances and in the process excrete seeds of the fruits and plants they consume via their droppings.
“The droppings act as natural fertiliser, which are vital for plants in the forests, making tapirs an important part of the nutrient cycle.
“The reduction in tapir numbers may cause forests to gradually degrade, potentially leading to the collapse of the biome (an area classified according to the species that live in that location),” he said (see graphic: How tapirs contribute to nutrient cycle).
Tapirs may travel between 10 and 25sq km in a day and females usually cover a wider area compared to males.
They create small trails in the jungle, which according to Louis, allows sunlight to filter through to smaller plants on the forest floor.
For this reason, Louis said, tapirs should be deemed a high conservation value (HCV) species, as they helped sustain biodiversity.
HCV is a concept in forestry studies that denotes species of critical importance due to their environmental, socioeconomic or cultural values.
Increasing numbers of tapirs are involved in fatal road crashes each year.
Ongoing efforts
Several measures have been taken to safeguard tapirs and their habitat, among other wildlife, in Malaysia.
One of them is the Improving Connectivity in Central Forest Spine (IC-CFS) programme launched in 2014 by the then Energy and Natural Resources Ministry.
It aims to reduce fragmentation by creating 37 ecological corridors linking four major forest complexes spanning eight states in the peninsula.
Louis says poor ecology may disrupt the food chain, altering the forest ecosystem.The four forest complexes are Bintang-Nakawan, Greater Taman Negara, South East Pahang-Chini-Bera and Endau Rompin-Ulu Sedili.
On March 9 last year, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the Federal Government was working with the relevant states to implement the programme in phases.
“We need IC-CFS to reduce human-wildlife conflicts caused by forest fragmentation,” he was quoted as saying in Dewan Rakyat.
Andrew said the IC-CFS initiative was a good start, but more must be done to deter poaching and forest encroachment.
“More funds should also be allocated to ensure the programme’s success,” he said, adding that continuous monitoring was crucial to ensure progress.
Louis, meanwhile, lauded Perhilitan’s Community Ranger initiative introduced in 2023, which roped in the Orang Asli as well as army and police veterans for forest patrols.
They are tasked with keeping watch on encroachment, poaching and illegal logging in wildlife reserves, state parks, forest reserves and Ramsar sites.
During the tabling of Budget 2024, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pledged to double the number of community rangers to 2,000 this year.
Some RM60mil was also allocated for recruitment, in addition to RM10mil to compensate those who suffer damage caused by wildlife.
In Hulu Selangor, the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre conducts rehabilitation and breeding programmes for tapirs.
Currently housing eight of the mammals, it also carries out a programme where the animals are prepared for eventual release into the wilderness.
Step up protection
Despite efforts made thus far to preserve and conserve tapirs, activists insist there is still room for improvement.
Andrew said local authorities could play a role by considering the impact on wildlife when drafting their local plans.
“Care must be taken to protect their natural habitat and ecosystem,” he said, adding that focus must also be given on developing ecotourism.
Mageswari urged the authorities to intensify cooperation with non-profit organisations and higher education institutions on conservation programmes.
“Some proposals look good on paper, but how effective are they in addressing the tapir decline?”
She added that this was an urgent issue as the species was listed under Appendix I, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – referring to a status of “most endangered”.
Louis echoed the sentiment, noting that the authorities should work with non-profit organisations on rescue operations for tapirs.
He also suggested the setting up of a hotline for the public to submit reports about poaching and wildlife trade.
He acknowledged that restoring the Malayan tapir numbers was an uphill task.
“It is difficult, but not impossible. If there is a will, there is a way,” he said.
