It appears that nowadays, more and more of our wildlife are entering our public spaces. From snakes in a wet market to the rise in crocodile sightings on our roads and near our homes.
Recently, a Malayan Tapir caused a stir when it turned up as an uninvited guest at a hotel in Melaka.
Hatten Hotel Worldwide group general manager Datuk Chuck Kassim said that the animal was roaming around the Estadia Hotel at Bandar Hilir and was spotted by a guest today (January 1).
“It was truly a New Year’s surprise for all of us at the Hatten Group.”
A Melaka Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said that the tapir was sedated by game rangers from the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) at about noon and officials from the Melaka Zoo were also present.
The Fire and Rescue Department says the tapir, who was found on the 5th floor, is believed to have entered via the parking lot and gotten lost.
Perhilitan added that they had received reports of a tapir being seen around the area, and had been prepared to address the situation.
“Perhilitan has been observing and trying to locate the tapir for the past two weeks, which is believed to have strayed from its original habitat, which is the forest area in the north of Malacca bordering Negeri Sembilan and Johor.”
The Malayan Tapir (tapirus indicus), also called the Asian Tapir, is a species native to the Malay peninsula and Sumatra.
It has been listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2008, with a total population of fewer than 2,500 mature individuals.
Watch the video below:
What a rare sighting!
Also read: WATCH: Huge Crocodile Emerges From River in Village in Melaka Because of The Floods
