Endangered Malayan Tapir Makes Early Morning Road Crossing in Singapore

In the early hours of Nov. 22, a rare Malayan tapir was spotted crossing a road in Singapore. Facebook user Marcus Lee shared a photo of the animal at 4:31 a.m. on the Singapore Wildlife Sightings Facebook group. According to nature enthusiast Daryl Tan, the tapir has recently moved out of Punggol and appears well-fed and healthy.

The tapir’s elusive behavior is attributed to two factors: its nocturnal lifestyle and its ability to swim. Tan explained that the tapir likely uses Singapore’s waterways, such as Sungei Serangoon, to travel across different areas, making it more challenging to spot.

This marks the third tapir sighting in Singapore this year, with previous encounters recorded in Punggol in July and September. Ryan Lee, Group Director of Wildlife Management at the National Parks Board (NParks), shared that NParks staff are closely monitoring the situation. Posters have also been placed around public areas with guidance on what to do if someone encounters the animal.

The public is advised to keep a safe distance from the tapir and avoid using flash photography, which could startle it. In case of a sighting, NParks has requested that the public report it by calling the 24-hour Animal Response Centre at 1800 476 1600.

Sightings of wild Malayan tapirs in Singapore are extremely rare, as they are believed to be visitors from Johor, possibly swimming over from Malaysia or stopping at nearby islands before arriving on the mainland. The Malayan tapir, the only tapir species found in Asia, is classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List due to habitat loss and poaching.