Education is the first and important step towards Tapir conservation because it is where you can transmit information about Malayan Tapir and create a community for them. All the required and necessary attitudes and behaviors starts from being aware towards the endangered status of the Tapirs. Thus, education plays a critical role in saving the tapirs.
Information of Malayan Tapirs and their endangered status should be added into the science textbook of primary school and secondary school of the education system. Besides spreading the general knowledge of Malayan Tapirs, educators should aim to instill value and attitudinal changes with regards to the protection of Malayan Tapirs in students.
In the theory of planned behaviour, behavioural intention is not only predicted by knowledge and the attitude, but also by subjective norms and perceived control. To achieve the required conditions to stimulate behavioural intention, teachers could organize group activities to foster their concern towards Malayan Tapirs. Students should also be taught to understand that each and every one of them have the power to make a difference and that they have the responsibility of ensuring the survival of Tapirs.
Handing out leaflets about tapir conservation to zoos and visitor centers can be an effective method for reaching out to other audiences. Organizing talks and seminars on tapir conservation at universities and zoos works too. Besides from just sharing information on Malayan Tapirs, more efforts can be made to allow for a first hand experience with Malayan Tapirs. Organizing an observation trip of Malayan Tapirs or encouraging people to join a Malayan Tapir Conservation Group or interest group are some potential methods. This can potentially enhance the overall value of as well as increase the perceived control of Tapirs. Additionally, Conservation group allows a sense of collective identity when everyone are taking part in the same event. This enhances the feeling of shared obligation towards Malayan Tapirs.
There are a lot of hunters who comes from rural backgrounds, as such, they may not be as well informed and may not know about the endangered status of Malayan Tapir. Organizations such as NGO(Non-Governmental Organization) could help in developing awareness campaign among the communities. Understanding the fact that the villagers hunt tapirs for food source, government could also give incentives as a way to encourage reduction in their hunting behaviours. Monetary rewards for villagers when they exchange Tapirs that they found to the Animal Conservation Organisation could work as positive reinforcement. Hunting behaviours can be diminished slowly with the combined efforts of education and government factors as well as communities.
Implementing environmental education should be a top priority in all of the countries where Malayan Tapirs exist, this includes Malaysia, Sumatera and Thailand. Efforts in education involves increasing awareness, sharing information of Malayan Tapirs, emphasizing the responsibility of the public and encouraging them to participate in animal conservation activities. Conservation education should aim for internalization of nation’s value towards Malayan Tapirs rather than mere knowledge in order to gain effective results.