Rare tapir spotted along Punggol park connector; Experts caution against going near animal
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SINGAPORE - People who come across tapirs should keep their distance from these large and powerful animals, said experts, after the rare creature was spotted running along a Punggol park connector on Sunday morning.
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Mr Kalai Vanan Balakrishnan, a chief executive at the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), said: âThe public should not approach the animal and should keep a safe distance as the tapir is most likely lost and stressed. They should also refrain from running or cycling after the animal.â
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In a video clip posted on the SG PCN Cyclist Facebook group by user Pong Posadas on Monday, the tapir is seen running along the park connector, past a jogger and one more person pushing a skate scooter, before stopping.
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In response to queries, Mr Ryan Lee, group director for wildlife management at the National Parks Board (NParks), said the board is aware that a Malayan Tapir was seen in Punggol.
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He said: âNParks staff are currently deployed on the ground to monitor the area for sightings of the tapir.â
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He added that sightings of tapirs in the wild in Singapore are rare.
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Mr Lee said: âIf members of the public encounter the tapir, remain calm and quiet and do not make any sudden movements. Do not attempt to approach or feed the animal. Keep a safe distance and do not corner or provoke the animal, for example, by using flash photography while taking pictures of it.â
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Speaking to The Straits Times, Mr Posadas, 38, said he was on his usual morning bicycle ride at the park connector and, at first, thought a horse was running behind him.
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He realised it was a tapir only when he slowed down and let the animal overtake him.
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He said: âI was shocked and amazed to see this beautiful creature.â He added that he made sure he was about 10m away from the animal while he filmed it.
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After the tapir stopped running, Mr Posadas said he backed away until he was about 20m from the animal.
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âI just watched it from afar until it went straight to an opening in the fences, straight to the river,â he said.
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The video has been widely shared on social media, with more than 1,100 shares and 2,000 likes at 4pm on Monday.
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This is at least the second time this year the Malayan tapir has been spotted in Singapore, after an earlier sighting in July.
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The Malayan tapir is the largest of four tapir species, growing up to 2.5m long and weighing up to 500kg. It has a distinctive white patch across its back.
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It is the only species of tapir found outside the Americas, and lives in lowland tropical rainforests in Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar.
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The animal is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. It is estimated that about 2,500 animals remain in the wild.
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Cue. (2023j, September 11). Rare tapir spotted along Punggol park connector; Experts caution against going near animal. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/rare-tapir-spotted-running-along-punggol-park-connector-acres-caution-against-going-near-animal