Destruction of  Ecosystems

Malayan Tapir plays a huge role in maintaining the biodiversity of tropical ecosystems. They are known as the “umbrella species” that indirectly protects other species such as monkeys, deer, wild cats and many other variety of reptiles and plants. Without Malayan Tapirs, the life cycle in the rain forest will lose its balance and many species will topple as a result. 

Tapirs consumes a wide variety of seasonal fruits and thus they are also the seed dispensers. When the fruits are consumed, the seeds are slowly defecated in different places as Tapirs wander around, thus helping to disperse the seeds throughout the habitat. Tapirs also help to shape and maintain the structure and diversity of the forest. Hence they are also known as gardeners of the forest, a habitat without Tapirs will evidently collapse and face eradication.

Tourism and Economics

Southeast Asia have been known to be a biodiversity hot spot and have a wide variety of flora and fauna. Malayan Tapir is one of the featured animals of Malaysia and Sumatra. As a result, Tapirs have been exported to many other countries’ national zoo. If Malayan Tapirs became extinct, one small issue is that Malaysia, Sumatra and Thailand will lose one of their highlight animals of the countries. The bigger problem lies in tourism, a necessary source of income for many countries, as mentioned before Tapirs are classified as an umbrella species that protects many other species. With the extinction of an umbrella species it will inevitably affect the rest of the species linked to it, when that happens, a snow ball of multiple extinctions isn’t an exaggeration. With the main attraction of having a rich wildlife gone, the number of tourists will decrease, resulting in a loss of income and perhaps even jobs. The economics will be shaken to the core.

Education purpose

If the Malayan Tapir were to be extinct, our future generation will not have a chance to witness it in action and might not even have the chance to learn about it in depth. It would indeed be a pity to lose yet another valued and endangered species.