PHOTOS of a tapir wandering near a roadside restaurant allegedly along the main Dungun-Kuala Terengganu road have started to go viral online.
The sight of the large, distinctive animal so close to a busy road has left many wondering how it got there in the first place.
Was a tapir really spotted wandering along a main road in Dungun?
Verdict:
TRUE
A tapir was spotted wandering along the main Dungun-Kuala Terengganu road near Pulau Serai in Dungun last Friday (Sept 18), with photos of the animal circulating widely on social media, as reported by Bernama.
The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) Terengganu confirmed it is investigating the incident following the viral images.
Perhilitan Terengganu director Dennis Ten Choon Yung said interviews with workers at nearby shops indicated the tapir was believed to have been sighted at around 10pm on Friday.
The animal was seen wandering near a roadside restaurant but did not pose any threat to members of the public.
Ten said the tapir is believed to have emerged from the Sungai Pimpin Forest Reserve, located approximately three kilometres from where it was spotted.
"Residents and road users at that location are advised to be careful if they encounter the wildlife and not to approach or disturb it," said Ten.
