A male tapir was killed while crossing the road at Kilometre 8, Jalan Bandar Al-Mukhtafi Billah Shah-Paka near Kampung Santong in Dungun, Terengganu, last night (31 January).
The endangered animal, weighing approximately 300kg, was hit by a Volkswagen car at around 8:30 PM. The driver, a 49-year-old teacher on his way home to Kerteh, was unharmed.
A 300kg male tapir was fatally hit by a car while crossing the road in Dungun
RTM quoted Dungun District Police Chief Superintendent Maizura Abdul Kadir as saying that, as a result of the impact, the tapir was flung several metres. Meanwhile, the car suffered severe damage to its front.
“Once at the scene, the driver reportedly didn’t have time to swerve away from the tapir crossing into the nearby woods,” she added.
The carcass of the tapir was handed over to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) for further action.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Perhilitan director Loo Kean Seong told BERNAMA that an examination of the carcass revealed signs of injury on its head and body. Two Perhilitan personnel have since taken the carcass for disposal.
This is not the first time that a tapir has been involved in a road accident in the district
Previously, on 24 January at 1 AM, a 200kg tapir was hit by a motorcycle at Kilometre 320.5 of the East Coast Highway 2 (LPT2) near the Kerteh exit.
The 19-year-old motorcyclist died at the scene.
Also read: Endangered Malayan Tapir Found Dead on Terengganu Road After Being Hit by Vehicle
