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It is always heartbreaking to know that a species is becoming extinct. Especially for those deeply involved in the wild-life and animal lovers, it is difficult to take in the ending of species. Today we will be talking about the Malayan Tapir. These animals are found in southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia. The existence of these animals is not common knowledge, since they have become pretty rare. Their appearance seems strange to many people because they are torn between hippopotamus or just a different colored pig. Malayan Tapirs are not in any way linked to pigs in their ancestry but are associated with the family of horses and rhinos.
Malayan Tapir is one of the species of Tapir that exists in Asia within rainforests. Tapir mothers only birth to one child, which can be taken as a reason for their rarity. Malayan Tapir is an endangered species with only around an estimate of less than 2500 of them left. They are distributed across Across Asia in Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, and Sumatra.
Due to their rare existence, they are being taken care of very cautiously. Mishampering with the species insight is not affordable and whenever one is found, it is the cause of celebration. Below we see the celebration of a newborn in the family of Malayan tapir!
In 1986, the Malayan tapir was declared an endangered species. The predominant reason for the decrease in their population was their loss of habitat and also an increase in hunting. There has been an overwhelming 50% decrease in their population in the past few decades. The rest of the population of Malayan Tapir resides in areas that are not well surveilled and protected. To our dismay, scientists have declared that this decline in their population will continue in the future. However, it is said to continue at a lower rate.
Due to their rarity, as mentioned above, whenever a baby Malayan Tapir, it is a day of joy. It is celebrated and cherished. Chester Zoo got to experience the beautiful birth of the rare and insanely cute Malayan Tapir in their area.
This adorable newborn was named Rony. He was born to his mother Margery and father Betong. He weighed a healthy 11,2 pounds. It is lesser than the usual weight of a tapir calf, which is around 22 pounds. Margery had 391 days of pregnancy and eventually gave birth to this cutest baby! Now that we are talking about Malayan Tapir, we should let you all in on some facts about them. Newborns are born with their eyes open and it does not take them long before they can stand, unlike human babies. A tapir calf is seen walking within few hours after birth. Unlike an adult Malayan Tapir, the newborns are covered with white spots and stripes. It is claimed that these white spots and stripes aid them in camouflaging when needed.
And of course, like most newborns, tapir babies also stick with their mothers till they are a year old when they are capable to go around on their own. Just look at this little Rony! It would be hard to not hug him if he was around us.
The team manager at the Zoo, Sarah Roffee, talks about this wonderful experience to be around a baby tapir: “It’s wonderful to hear the pitter-patter of tiny, spotty Malayan tapir feet again for only the second time ever in the zoo’s long history. Mum Margery is ever so good with the baby. She’s very attentive but also gives him chance to explore and find his feet”.
Mother Margery blessed us all with this beautiful newborn that is as cute as any baby tapir can be. Wish these beautiful creatures could be closer to us so we could see them more often. But it is also more important for such rare species to be protected and secured, away from the harness of the city and human life. These animals have their own way of living and mannerisms, that do not combine well with human routines. They need their own space to grow in a way that is better for them.
If you like to know people around you that you know would adore reading about Malayan tapirs, share this post with them! And stick around till we come up with another informative and adorable post about such cute animals
