Rare photo of an Asian tapir in the wild:
Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia

Asian tapir in the wild - photo by Jaliya Rasaputra

Photo © 1998 Jaliya Rasaputra

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On January 12, 2002, I found this photo in the e-mail box with a fascinating note from the photographer. Jaliya Rasaputra wrote:

I was very interested to read and browse your website on tapirs.I am especially interested in tapir conservation work in Malaysia. I lived in Malaysia for two years from 1996-1998 and was extreamly keen on seeing a tapir in the wild.

I visited many national parks such as Endo Rompin and Kenong Rimba and observed fresh tapir tracks and forest vegetaion browsed by tapir, but could not see a tapir. I also visited Taman Negara National Park in the heart of Pahang district five times.

I spent a night each time at Bunbun Kumbang (forest hide on top of a tree overlooking a water hole). It was only on my last visit and last day in the park that the elusive tapir came to the waterhole just after sunrise. I attach my photo of this tapir.

It was certainly a very rare oppoutunity as only one in four visitors see the tapir from the hide, they are usually 90% of the time noctunal (most visitors who see a tapir see only a red spot of their eyes and the black and white streaks flahing by flashlights). Tapirs are certainly almost impossible to photograph by visitors to the hide.

As an endangered species they are very rare even in Taman Negara, and reaching the hide also takes a considerable amount of energy, tracking through jungle paths through thick tropical forests.

The tapir, which was drinking at the water hole, gave me this pose before dissappearing into the forest. I consider this photo, taken in 1998, one of my most difficult photos I have ever taken up to now.

Please be free to use my photo in your site.

Best wishes,

Jaliya Rasaputra

I later learned that Jaliya lives in Canada and was on a two year teaching assignment in Malaysia at the time he took the photo. On April 3, 2002, he wrote again:

I was recently in touch with a Malaysian friend of mine who is building a jungle campsite in Kenong Rimba park which is near Kuala Lipis, adjoining Taman Negara National Park. He intends to promote ecotourism at his site. I have visited this park and site under constructon and the area is covered with trails and caves.

A camper who was camping in one of the caves had his face licked by a tapir at night while sleeping. I myself have seen many fresh tapir track and footprints while tracking oin this park.

All tapirs are endangered species.
Saving tapirs helps save the rainforest.

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