THE past few months recorded a high number of Malayan tapirs tragically dying after being hit by vehicles.
Just between January of this year and mid- April, 12 tapirs died from road accidents. The decade from 2009 to 2019 saw 102 tapir roadkill deaths. With tapir populations in Peninsular Malaysia estimated to range between 1,100 and 1,500, every single tapir death is a great loss.
Death due to road accident is among the major threats to the Malayan tapir, as well as deforestation, habitat loss, displacement and wire snares, says Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim.
In response to the rate of roadkill, Perhilitan set up 300 wildlife crossing signs across Peninsular Malaysia, 24 solar lights at four Safe Tapir Crossing locations at the Central Forest Spine in Johor and installed 37 sets of transverse bars (speed bumps).
“The use of wildlife crossing sign boards is an effective way of reminding the public to be alert and cautious, which in turn helps to further reduce roadkill cases,” says Abdul Kadir.
“This initiative will be most effective if all parties work together to raise public awareness on the importance of protecting wildlife.”
Roadkill incidences often happen when deforestation drives the tapir to go out of its natural habitat, rendering it susceptible to road accidents, explains Abdul Kadir.
“If you see a wildlife crossing sign board while driving, please slow down and always be aware of your surroundings. Tapirs can be killed even when it gets hit with a motorcycle ... It is a very sad thing to happen,” says Perhilitan tapir conservationist Mohd Samsudin Mohd Suri.
To decrease the amount of Malayan tapir becoming roadkill, World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) wildlife conservationist Christopher Wong believes that Malaysia should give special attention to comprehensive land use planning.
“Before development, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) need to be done to assess the flora and fauna of the area. The information gathered can help assess whether the area is suitable for development, or whether it is better to look at other places. These steps are highly important for the tapir habitat,” he says.
“Ultimately, we want to prevent forest fragmentation, minimise or prevent opening up forests and preserve our natural forest.”
The endangered Malayan tapir is classified as a totally protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
