Latest news with #MalayanTapir
Daily Express
13-05-2025
- General
- Daily Express
RimbaWatch urges halt to road projects threatening wildlife habitats
Published on: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 13, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: RimbaWatch highlighted several road projects that will allegedly cut through the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve as well as the Titiwangsa Range through the Gapau and Lenggeng permanent forest reserves. (File pic) PETALING JAYA: An environmental watchdog has called for a halt to several projects that allegedly cut through sensitive wildlife habitats following the death of a baby elephant in a collision along the East-West Highway in Gerik, Perak, on Sunday. In a statement, RimbaWatch asked the government to immediately issue a permanent stop-work order for the road projects and other similar projects that would allegedly extend across sensitive ecosystems. It highlighted three environmental impact assessments: two approved by the department of environment in 2022, and another for road projects approved in 2023. It said that in 2022, approval was granted for the construction of Phase 3A of Jalan Kampung Pasir Raja in Hulu Dungun, as well as Zone A of Jalan Kampung Mat Daling in Jerantut, both leading to the Terengganu-Pahang border. It said these involved a 52km road which would cut through the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve, intended to be a core habitat for numerous wild cat species including the Malayan tiger, as well as other endangered species such as the Asian elephant and Malayan Tapir. 'The area has been protected under 'hutan perlindungan' status for some time, and RimbaWatch believes this to be a virgin forest which has never been logged before,' it said. The 2023 approval meanwhile was for a new road from Kampung Gagu in Ulu Beranang, Negeri Sembilan, involving a 15km road that would cut through the Titiwangsa Range through the Gapau and Lenggeng permanent forest reserves, it said. 'Human-animal conflict has already materialised from the expansion of roads into these areas. In 2022, a tiger was spotted on a newly-built road near Kampung Mat Daling. 'In April, a black panther mauled a lorry driver who had briefly stopped his vehicle by the roadside in Bukit Tangga, on an existing road which also dissects the Gapau and Lenggeng forest reserves,' RimbaWatch said. It said there was no way to build highways through highly sensitive protected areas without causing deforestation, severely hindering wildlife connectivity, and exposing endangered species to danger through roadkill, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. 'We also question the effectiveness of constructing new highways through mountain ranges as a solution to connectivity issues. For example, the Kampung Gagu-Ulu Beranang road is parallel to an already existing road,' it added. The watchdog urged Putrajaya to instead improve public transport connectivity outside main cities, including by reviving historical rail lines and establishing new networks on, or adjacent to, existing infrastructural right of ways. It said that in the past, smaller towns such as Kuala Sepetang, Port Dickson, and Kuala Pilah had been connected via rail, which could provide an effective template to promote greater connectivity through establishing a safe, fast, and affordable rail network outside cities. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
112 Malayan tapirs killed in road accidents from 2020 to 2024
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said his ministry has carried out numerous initiatives to address the decline in the number of Malayan tapirs. (Instagram pic) PETALING JAYA : A total of 112 Malayan tapirs were killed in road accidents nationwide between 2020 and last year, says natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. Nik Nazmi said the latest data from the wildlife and national parks department shows only about 700 to 800 Malayan tapirs remain in their natural habitats. He said the ministry has implemented various initiatives to address this issue. 'We have installed yellow transverse bars, LED wildlife crossing signboards, and solar amber lights in Gerik, Perak and Kedah. 'We are also open to expanding these measures to other areas, including in Selangor, where cases of tapir deaths have been reported,' Bernama reported him as saying at the Wildlife Conservation Centre at Sungai Dusun in Kuala Kubu Baharu, Hulu Selangor, today. On attempts to breed the Malayan tapir, Nik Nazmi said the ministry will continue to intensify conservation efforts through both in-situ (in natural habitats) and ex-situ (outside natural habitats, such as conservation centres) approaches. 'In addition, habitat protection will be strengthened through the construction of wildlife crossings at the Sungai Deka Ecological Corridor in Terengganu, the Sungai Yu Ecological Corridor in Pahang and the Gerik Ecological Corridor. 'We have already begun work on the construction of the National Tapir Conservation Centre at the Kenaboi Forest Reserve in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan,' he said.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Creature that looks like ‘walking watermelon' born at WA zoo. See the ‘little miracle'
An endangered baby animal that looks like a fuzzy 'walking watermelon' was born at a Washington zoo. The white striped and speckled Malayan tapir calf was born Feb. 2 at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, the zoo said in a news release. It's the second time a tapir has been born at the zoo since it opened 120 years ago, zoo officials said. The 20-pound healthy newborn is currently 'nursing and bonding' with its mother, Yuna. Yuna is 10 years old and weighs nearly 900 pounds, zoo officials said. The creature's father is Baku, and he's also 10 and weighs 800 pounds. The pair had a baby boy at the zoo in 2019, The Tacoma News Tribune reported that year. Zoo officials said they will name the new baby and announce its sex in the 'coming weeks.' But in the meantime, the calf will continue to nurse for the next six months and stay with its mom for 12 to 18 months, zoo officials said. 'Thank you Point Defiance Zoo for sharing this little miracle with us all!' one person commented on Facebook. 'Another fuzzy watermelon! So exciting,' another person wrote. The Malayan Tapir is the largest of the four tapir species, according to the Tapir Specialist Group. This species is found in Asia in southern Myanmar and southern Thailand. Tapirs are herbivores and have long and flexible noses for snagging leaves and fruit, the zoo said. When they are babies, they are born with white stripes and dots to blend in with their environment. The 'mostly nocturnal' animal typically lives alone but may live in a pair. Zoo officials said the tapir is endangered due to disappearing forests, farms, logging and being hunted by humans. Otter pair gets new home at North Carolina aquarium. See them frolicking under water 'Sassy' 55-year-old chimpanzee — known for 'signature screams' — dies at Michigan zoo Rare sightings and mysterious behavior: Check out animal stories from around the world
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rare, endangered Malayan tapir calf born at Point Defiance Zoo in WA
The Brief Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium celebrated the birth of a rare and endangered Malayan Tapir calf. The calf is bonding with its mother behind the scenes, and zoo visitors could expect to see it by late spring. The gender and the name of the calf will be revealed in the coming weeks. TACOMA, Wash. - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium celebrated the birth of a Malayan tapir calf over the weekend, marking only the second time in the zoo's 120-year history that this rare and endangered species has been born there. What we know According to Head Veterinarian Dr. Karen Wolf, the calf and its parents are both healthy. For now, the calf is staying behind the scenes at the zoo's Asian Forest Sanctuary, where it will bond with its mother. The newborn is estimated to weigh about 20 pounds. Yuna and Baku, the mother and father, are both 10 years old and weigh about 900 and 800 pounds, respectively. What they're saying "We're thrilled to witness this incredible moment and look forward to watching the calf grow," said Curator Telena Welsh. What's next According to the zoo, tapir calves usually nurse for about 13 to 14 months. The sex and name of the calf will be revealed in the coming weeks, and guests may get the chance to see it later this spring. The calf's markings—white spots and stripes—are typical for tapir calves and often resemble a watermelon due to their appearance. When a Malayan tapir becomes an adult, its head turns black with varying colors along its body. Why you should care According to the zoo, Malayan tapirs are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with populations declining due to habitat loss from deforestation and human development. According to A-Z Animals, there are between 3,000 and 4,500 Malayan tapirs left in the world, depending on the species. Yuna and Baku were paired as part of the Species Survival Plan, a program that helps ensure the genetic diversity and long-term sustainability of Malayan tapirs in human care. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. The Source Information for this story came from a press release by the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. School closures: Track closings, delays in western WA for Tuesday, Feb. 4 LIVE UPDATES: Road closures, delays to know as winter weather hits western WA Northbound I-405 in Renton blocked after semi crash King County Metro purchase of 120 Teslas faces scrutiny as anti-Tesla sentiment in WA grows 50 states, 50 protests against Project 2025, Trump orders planned for Feb. 5 China responds to Trump's tariffs: See the list To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily Fox Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
