Tapir safely back in zoo after tragic loss of its calf

Early morning workout: Civil Defence Force personnel chasing a tapir around Jalan Gertak Merah, near the Johor Zoo, in Johor Baru.

JOHOR BARU: The Civil Defence Force (APM) has safely brought a tapir back to the Johor Zoo after it escaped yesterday morning.

Johor Baru APM officer Capt (PA) Mazran Mohamed said in a statement yesterday that the animal jumped out of its enclosure after its calf died.

“The female tapir was seen by the Civil Defence Force team, who were conducting a patrol under Ops Prihatin at 3.15am.

“Officers and personnel from the agency and the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) managed to bring the tapir back to the zoo at 4am,” he said, adding that the animal was unharmed.

The Johor Zoo is currently undergoing an upgrade and is expected to reopen at the end of this month.

Earlier, a 22-second video was uploaded to the APM Johor’s Facebook page showing Civil Defence Force personnel chasing a tapir on the road in the wee hours of the day.