Malay tapirs

Malay tapirs, scientific name Tapirus indicus, often live alone, rarely seeing them in pairs. This tapir likes to live in dense areas and near water. Although their bodies are a bit bulky, they are good swimmers, can soak in water for hours. In the forest, they create their own paths through the thick low trees and often use those "trenches" from year to year. Under the dense foliage they move at a remarkable speed.

Malay tapirs have some characteristics similar to domestic pigs: big body, short legs, narrow eyes, squeaky. But it is different from home pigs in that: each litter lays only 1 child, rarely 2 children.

While domestic pigs are mainly active during the day, Malaysian tapirs are mainly active at night . Tapirus indicus prefer to eat plants under water, young shoots or low-growth fruit plants. They are very shy, if there is anything threatening to run into the water or slip into thick bushes to hide.

Malay male piglet

Malaysian tapirs have erect ears, thick skin, sparse hairs, a small tap due to the upper lip and nose forming. Colors cannot be mixed with other animals: the front and the hind legs are black, the rest are white. The adult male body length is about 2m; tail length is about 7.6cm; weighing about 268kg. Canine teeth are long and strong. They do not give birth at a certain time of the year, but are always pregnant for about 400 days. Juveniles are different in color from those of adults. At birth, they are brown with strips and white spots lying along the length of the body. Variegated colors will disappear by the time the young tapir is 6 to 8 months old. After 3 years, they have actually become mature tapirs.

Malaysian tapirs are becoming increasingly rare because of human activities that destroy their habitats.