In unexpected news - a Malayan Tapir has been seen in Singapore - the first sighting in 30 years. It is thought to have swum from mainland Malaysia, but I'm not sure what that distance is. Story & Photo here: Rare sighting of Malayan tapir in Singapore - Nation | The Star Online
Very interesting! It looks like the tapir was moving along the boundary fence of Changi Airport in the photo. I'm guessing it did a bit of island hopping, swimming about 2 kilometres from Johor to Singapore's Pulau Tekong island (mostly uninhabited and forested, used by the military), and then another 3 to 4 kilometres from Pulau Tekong to Changi on the mainland. I wonder if it is still here.
this article Malayan tapir spotted roaming around in Singapore - Nation | The Star Online says a few different things to the above article, in part:
So you think it's a good (and feasible) idea to introduce a population of 300kg+ wild mammals into one of the most densely populated areas on Earth? On the basis of a single stray individual currently appearing there?
They used to live in Singapore however, now they have become extinct here, so if several were released into Singapore vast national parks (nearly one third of the island is national park) it would mean there are "backup" populations incase something happens to the ones on Malaysia.
The idea for a back-up pop in Singapore ain't outlandish. However, I would really advocate better protection and law enforcement and effective restrictions on development in coastal Malaysian rainforests to stop the rot of loss of habitat and the need for tapirs and other wildlife to migrate to other areas. Primary focus should be on how to combat clearing of the Tanjung Langsat area near Pasir Gudang and Pengerang in Kota Tinggi! I assume the staff of the Malaysian Nature Society Johor State will be onto this.
Various megafauna species used to live in what are now metropolises; yet no sane person would support the release of wisents in Madrid, grizzly bears in LA or jaguars in Mexico City ..
Firstly, Singapore does have a 1/3 part that is protected forest, including around the area of the zoo in Mandai. Secondly, I am not advocating that we should as a first priority. Just read ... "Primary focus ..."!
About 1600 sq km - smaller than the ACT, for example. Singapore is about a third the size of the ACT, to use an Aussie comparison.
Several metropolises have large parks/protected forests within their range-which nevertheless do not qualify as suitable habitats for megafauna. And I was directly addressing animal_expert01's post, as indicated by the quotation.