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TAPIR SPECIALIST GROUP


Tapir Conservation
The Newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group
Number 7, October 1997

NEWS FROM THE FIELD

See Table of Contents


Asia

Myanmar (Burma)

Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)
Estimated population: Unknown

No report.


Laos

Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)
Estimated population: Unknown

On a recent trip to Southeast Asia (1997), Sian S. Waters, outgoing EEP Chair for Tapirs and Hippos, learned that there were no projects being conductedon tapirs in Laos, Vietnam or Cambodia.


Vietnam

Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)
Estimated population: Unknown

(See under Laos.)


Thailand

Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)
Estimated population: 100

Face to face

Dr. Rabinowitz describes sighting a Malayan tapir in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. The 600-pound tapir was in the river, and upon seeing Dr. Rabinowitz, raised its snout, bared its teeth, and let out a harsh, grating sound. He noted both the speed and agility the tapir possessed as it made its way out of the river and through the forest. T. indicus is rarely seen in the wild. This account provided a brief yet interesting insight about the habits of the Malayan tapir.


Poaching incident

This story may be typical of problems facing conservationists in Thailand.

On July 22, 1996, Thailand lost one more of the estimated 100 Malayan tapirs (T. indicus) that still inhabit that country. The wild population throughout its entire range may be only 900 animals.

On or about July 9, an anonymous tip to police had resulted in the arrest of four Thai men in Ayutthaya on suspicion of slaughtering six endangered bears and capturing up to 40 cubs. Gallbladders and paws of the bears bring high prices in Korea. Five Korean tourists suspected of being buyers of illegal bear parts were also arrested.

One of the four Thais was restaurant-owner Veera Saengpanich. Police learned he had been keeping a baby tapir on the premises. But the tapir, one of 15 species on Thailand's "highly endangered" list, was gone by the time police arrived. A raid on Mr. Veera's home turned up a tiger, two deer and a gibbon.

Leonie Vejjajiva, an animal activist with WARF (Wild Animal Rescue Foundation) of Thailand, confirmed that the tapir had been taken to a zoo in Lopburi after Veera's arrest. It died there on July 22nd. Its condition on arrival at the zoo was not stated.

A tapir can bring several thousand dollars U.S. on the illegal market. Maximum penalty for trading in and possessing protected wildlife in Thailand is four years in jail and/or a fine of 40,000 baht (about $1175 U.S.).

Edited from Bangkok Post online
[The URL originally published is out of date]
Wasant Techawongtham and Chakrit Ridmontri
July 23 and 24, 1996


Cambodia

Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)
Estimated population: Unknown

(See under Laos.)


Malaysia

Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)
Estimated population: 369

No report.


Sumatra

Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)
Estimated population: Unknown

No report.


Indonesia

Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)
Estimated population: Unknown

No report.



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