A surge in roadkill incidents has been reported recently, and another unfortunate case involves an endangered species, the Malayan tapir. The 300kg tapir was discovered on the side of the road at Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari, Puncak Alam, Shah Alam.
The Saujana Utama Volunteer Fire Team promptly responded to an emergency call to aid the Selangor Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) in relocating the tapir's carcass.
Given the substantial weight of the animal, officers had to use water hoses tied to facilitate lifting and placing the tapir into Perhilitan's vehicle for further action.
Puncak Alam has become familiar with roadkill incidents, as highlighted by the Malaysia Animal Association. It was noted that uncontrolled deforestation stands out as a major factor contributing to the reduction of animal habitats, leading to a scarcity of food sources.
Consequently, this situation results in frequent instances of animals crossing roads in the country. Between 2006 and 2019, a total of 115 tapirs were involved in roadkill incidents, with the year 2017 recording the highest number at 26.
