Wildlife officers save lost tapir in Kota Kemuning

Surprise visitor: Wildlife officers trying to lift the tapir out of the drain at a housing estate in Kota Kemuning.

PETALING JAYA: A tapir, believed to have wandered away from the jungle, somehow ended up in Kota Kemuning.

Several residents there, who were getting ready for their Sunday morning walk and breakfast, were surprised to find the nocturnal hoofed mammal in their housing estate.

The tapir was spotted wandering around aimlessly, eating plants and bushes at about 7am as more residents, some on motorcycles, came to take a glimpse of it.

However, due to the sudden attention, it got frightened and tried to flee before falling into a drain and getting stuck in it.

Officers from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and Malaysian Civil Defence Force were called in to rescue the animal.

Due to its size, they had to deploy a crane to lift it out of the drain.

To watch the video posted on the Kota Kemuning Facebook group, go to https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=334403690526712