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Many animals that call Malaysia
home are close to becoming
extinct due to the upheaval of
their ecosystems. Everything
thatwe do on a daily basis is
affectingour surroundings, from
the disposal of garbage to the
use of chemical products like
aerosol sprays and pesticides.
Here are five animals that are
high on the endangered species
list inMalaysia.
In Malaysia
Endangered
The tapir’s closest relatives are horses and rhinoceroses. There are four species of
tapir, and all have been classified as endangered. TheMalayan Tapir is one of them.
Tapir’s survive on berries, leaves and fruits. TheMalayan Tapir protects itself against
its natural predator with its strange body colour of black andwhite, which camouflage
nicely against large rockswhen they lie down. The numbers are fast declining due to
the loss of their habitats loss from the establishment of plantations, forest burning and
logging. It is also being hunted for itsmeat and hide.
TheOrangutan has always been
Malaysia’s pride and joy, adorning logos
and being used as an official mascot for
world class events held in the country.
Unfortunately, not many are aware of
howclose to extinction they are. There
are two different species of Orangutan -
Sumatran and Bornean. Both species are
endangered but the SumatranOrangutan
is currently in amore critical state.
Orangutans are said to be the smartest
creature on earth after humans, hence
the namewhichmeans forest man in
English. It is really sad how their numbers
have been on the decline in the past few
decades due to active logging activities
and forest fires.
Orangutan
Malayan Tapir