The Fascinating Malayan Tapir: Habitat, Range, and Adaptations
Biology
Living things in
their
Environment
Grade 6D
Tia Nazha
Teresa Alrabadi
Kinda Alsamarneh
Naya Tadros
Table of contents
Malayan
Tapir
Habitat &
Range
Statistics
Reasons
behind
extinction
Adaptations
Being done
now to
preserve
01
02
03
04
05
06
Malayan
Tapir
01
The Malayan tapir is
the largest of the four
species of tapir, and it's the only one located in
Asia
.
They are also the largest of the tapir species,
weighing in at around 350 kg (720 pounds) and
growing 1.8 meters long (6 feet).
Habitat
& Range
02
Habitat & Range
Tropical lowland swamp, montane and hill forests,
prefers dense, primary forests.
The tapir ranges through Myanmar (Burma) and
Thailand south to Malaysia and Sumatra.
Adaptations
03
A
d
a
p
t
a
t
i
o
n
s
B
l
a
c
k
W
h
i
t
e
B
l
a
c
k
Malayan tapirs are sometimes called “Oreo” tapirs because their
distinctive black and white color pattern resembles an Oreo cookie.
The black on the front and back with white or gray in the middle is a
form of camouflage that breaks up the tapir’s outline in the
shadows of the forest. The stripes and spots on the vulnerable
young help them blend into the dappled sunlight and leaf shadows
of the forest and protects them from predators.
A
d
a
p
t
a
t
i
o
n
s
P
r
e
h
e
n
s
i
l
e
S
n
o
u
t
The tapir’s upper lip and nose are elongated to form a distinctive
prehensile snout that is similar to a stubby elephant’s trunk. This
flexible extended nose is used for plucking leaves and shoots from
trees as well as sniffing their way along forest trails. They have an
excellent sense of smell and rely on scents for communication.
Urine spraying is used to mark well-used pathways between
feeding areas and water sources.
A
d
a
p
t
a
t
i
o
n
s
B
a
r
r
e
l
-
S
h
a
p
e
d
B
o
d
y
Tapirs have a thick heavy barrel-shaped body ideal for crashing
through dense forest vegetation. When frightened or threatened,
tapirs can run quickly. Despite their large size they can climb steep
slopes on the banks of rivers. They are excellent swimmers and
spend a lot of time in the water.
Statistics
04
Statistics
Number of displaced tapirs
Statistics
According to Malaysia’s Department of Wildlife
and National Parks (Perhilitan), in 2017, a total
of 25 tapirs died after being hit by vehicles.
Statistics from Perhilitan show that 2,444 wild
animals died as a result of roadkill from 2012
to 2017 despite signboards placed at areas
known for wildlife crossings. The rampant hit-
and-run cases involving Malayan tapirs have
even garnered the attention of local politicians
and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
How many Malayan tapirs are left
in the world 2022?
3,000 left in the wild (Endangered)
. This strange
animal confuses many people. It looks like a
combination of a pig and an elephant, but it is
actually an animal called the Tapir.
Tapirs are most closely related to horses and
rhinos, not pigs or elephants.
Reasons
behind
extinction
05
Reasons behind extinction
The Malayan tapir was first listed as
endangered in 1986, due to an ongoing decline
from
loss of available habitat, fragmentation of
remaining habitat and increasingly hunting
pressure
.
Tapirs are critically endangered because their
habitat and environment is getting ruined, so
the outcome means that tapirs won't have a
place to live.
Reasons behind extinction
In fact, the Malayan Tapir is an easy target for
speeding vehicles due to their poor eyesight.
Poaching and hunting tapirs
for their meat and
skin
is also on the rise.
Being done
now to
preserve!
06
Being done now to preserve!
The best way to recover the species
and their home would be
to
reclaim and protect the
deforested areas and allow the
Malayan tapirs to roam freely and
reseed with their diet.
Being done now to preserve!
The World Tapir Day is celebrated
on April 27 every year to raise
community awareness on the
importance of conserving tapirs
and their habitats.
You can help too!
Many Ways to help out:
1.
Help the environment by maybe planting
some trees or helping the increase of
pollution (e.g. putting rubbish in the bin, using
ecofriendly lunch boxes, helping the
community and help clean up the environment
like Volunteer
work).
2. Recycle (e.g. use recycled paper, recycle your
cell phones, try to always throw out rubbish,
using ecofriendly lunch boxes).
3. Reduce and Reuse.
4. Tell others about Tapirs being endangered
and start helping the Tapir movement.
This will provide the tapirs with a better
environment and a nicer habitat where they
can live.
Stop hunting
Tapirs and make
a stand!
References
•
https://denverzoo.org/animals/malayan-tapir/
•
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-number-of-
displaced-Malayan-tapirs-in-Peninsular-Malaysia-
from-2006-to-2010_fig3_260292525
•
https://theaseanpost.com/article/protecting-
malayan-tapirs
References
•
https://www.tapirday.org/malayan-
tapir.html#:~:text=Conservation%20Status,habitat%2
0and%20increasingly%20hunting%20pressure
•
http://thetapirmovement.weebly.com/save-the-
tapirs.html
Thank you!
The Malayan tapir, the largest of its kind, is uniquely adapted to its habitat in tropical lowland swamps, montane and hill forests. With its distinctive black and white color pattern for camouflage and a prehensile snout for feeding and communication, this species thrives in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Sumatra. Efforts are being made to preserve this endangered species due to reasons like habitat loss and hunting.
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Presentation Transcript
Biology Biology Living things in Living things in their their Environment Environment Grade 6D Tia Nazha Teresa Alrabadi Kinda Alsamarneh Naya Tadros
Table of contents 02 01 03 Malayan Malayan Tapir Tapir Habitat & Habitat & Range Range Adaptations 04 05 06 Statistics Reasons behind extinction Being done now to preserve
01 Malayan Malayan Tapir Tapir
The M al ayan t ap i r i sthe largest of the four species of tapir, and it's the only one located in Asia. They are al s o t he l arges t o f t he t ap i r s p eci es , wei ghi ng i n at aro und 3 5 0 kg ( 7 20 p o unds ) and gro wi ng 1. 8 m et ers l o ng ( 6 feet ) .
02 Habitat Habitat & Range & Range
Habitat & Range Tropical lowland swamp, montane and hill forests, prefers dense, primary forests. The tapir ranges through Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand south to Malaysia and Sumatra.
03 Adaptations
Adaptations Black White Black Malayan tapirs are sometimes called Oreo tapirs because their distinctive black and white color pattern resembles an Oreo cookie. The black on the front and back with white or gray in the middle is a form of camouflage that breaks up the tapir s outline in the shadows of the forest. The stripes and spots on the vulnerable young help them blend into the dappled sunlight and leaf shadows of the forest and protects them from predators.
Adaptations Prehensile Snout The tapir s upper lip and nose are elongated to form a distinctive prehensile snout that is similar to a stubby elephant s trunk. This flexible extended nose is used for plucking leaves and shoots from trees as well as sniffing their way along forest trails. They have an excellent sense of smell and rely on scents for communication. Urine spraying is used to mark well-used pathways between feeding areas and water sources.
Adaptations Barrel-Shaped Body Tapirs have a thick heavy barrel-shaped body ideal for crashing through dense forest vegetation. When frightened or threatened, tapirs can run quickly. Despite their large size they can climb steep slopes on the banks of rivers. They are excellent swimmers and spend a lot of time in the water.
04 Statistics
Statistics Number of displaced tapirs
Statistics A cco rdi ng t o M al ays i a s Dep art m ent o f Wi l dl i fe and Nat i o nal Parks ( Perhi l i t an) , i n 2017 , a t o t al o f 25 t ap i rs di ed aft er bei ng hi t by vehi cl es . S t at i s t i cs fro m Perhi l i t an s ho w t hat 2, 4 4 4 wi l d ani m al s di ed as a res ul t o f ro adki l l fro m 2012 t o 2017 des p i t e s i gnbo ards p l aced at areas kno wn fo r wi l dl i fe cro s s i ngs . The ram p ant hi t - and- run cas es i nvo l vi ng M al ayan t ap i rs have even garnered t he at t ent i o n o f l o cal p o l i t i ci ans and no n- go vernm ent al o rgani s at i o ns ( NGO s ) .
How many Malayan tapirs are left in the world 2022? 3,000 left in the wild (Endangered). Thi s s t range ani m al co nfus es m any p eo p l e. I t l o o ks l i ke a co m bi nat i o n o f a p i g and an el ep hant , but i t i s act ual l y an ani m al cal l ed t he Tap i r. Tap i rs are m o s t cl o s el y rel at ed t o ho rs es and rhi no s , no t p i gs o r el ep hant s .
05 Reasons behind extinction
Reasons behind extinction The M al ayan t ap i r was firs t l i s t ed as endangered i n 1986 , due t o an o ngo i ng decl i ne fro m loss of available habitat, fragmentation of remaining habitat and increasingly hunting pressure. Tap i rs are cri t i cal l y endangered becaus e t hei r habi t at and envi ro nm ent i s get t i ng rui ned, s o t he o ut co m e m eans t hat t ap i rs wo n' t have a p l ace t o l i ve.
Reasons behind extinction I n fact , t he M al ayan Tap i r i s an eas y t arget fo r s p eedi ng vehi cl es due t o t hei r p o o r eyes i ght . Po achi ng and hunt i ng t ap i rsfor their meat and skin i s al s o o n t he ri s e.
06 Being done now to preserve!
Being done now to preserve! The bes t way t o reco ver t he s p eci es and t hei r ho m e wo ul d be t o reclaim and protect the deforested areas and allow the Malayan tapirs to roam freely and reseed with their diet.
Being done now to preserve! The Wo rl d Tap i r Day i s cel ebrat ed o n A p ri l 27 every year t o rai s e co m m uni t y awarenes s o n t he i m p o rt ance o f co ns ervi ng t ap i rs and t hei r habi t at s .
You can help too! Many Ways to help out: 1. Help the environment by maybe planting some trees or helping the increase of pollution (e.g. putting rubbish in the bin, using ecofriendly lunch boxes, helping the community and help clean up the environment like Volunteer work). 2. Recycle (e.g. use recycled paper, recycle your cell phones, try to always throw out rubbish, using ecofriendly lunch boxes).
3. Reduce and Reuse. 4. Tell others about Tapirs being endangered and start helping the Tapir movement. Thi s wi l l p ro vi de t he t ap i rs wi t h a bet t er envi ro nm ent and a ni cer habi t at where t hey can l i ve.
Stop hunting Stop hunting Tapirs and make Tapirs and make a stand! a stand!
References https://denverzoo.org/animals/malayan-tapir/ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-number-of- displaced-Malayan-tapirs-in-Peninsular-Malaysia- from-2006-to-2010_fig3_260292525 https://theaseanpost.com/article/protecting- malayan-tapirs
References https://www.tapirday.org/malayan- tapir.html#:~:text=Conservation%20Status,habitat%2 0and%20increasingly%20hunting%20pressure http://thetapirmovement.weebly.com/save-the- tapirs.html
Thank you! Thank you!
