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Malayan Tapir Spotted in Singapore

Discussion in 'Singapore' started by zooboy28, 26 Jun 2016.

  1. zooboy28

    zooboy28 Well-Known Member

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    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

     
  2. Zooish

    Zooish Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    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.
     
  3. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    this article Malayan tapir spotted roaming around in Singapore - Nation | The Star Online says a few different things to the above article, in part:

     
  4. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    MNS: Normal for animals to cross to S?pore - Nation | The Star Online
     
  5. animal_expert01

    animal_expert01 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Awesome! Maybe they should transfer some Malayan tapirs to the national parks in Singapore?
     
  6. Batto

    Batto Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    For what purpose, @animal_expert01?
     
  7. animal_expert01

    animal_expert01 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    So there would be a "backup" population in Singapore.
     
  8. Batto

    Batto Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Backup for what?
     
  9. animal_expert01

    animal_expert01 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    In case they go extinct on malaysia
     
  10. Batto

    Batto Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    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?
     
  11. animal_expert01

    animal_expert01 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    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.
     
  12. Maguari

    Maguari Never could get the hang of Thursdays. 15+ year member Premium Member

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    You say 'vast' - the whole country is only half the size of Greater London. ;)
     
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  13. animal_expert01

    animal_expert01 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    How bigs is greater London?
     
  14. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    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.
     
  15. Batto

    Batto Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    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 ..
     
  16. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    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 ..."!
     
  17. Maguari

    Maguari Never could get the hang of Thursdays. 15+ year member Premium Member

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    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. :)
     
  18. Batto

    Batto Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    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.