KUANTAN: Swift action saved a 350kg tapir trapped in a ditch in Taman Kempadang Perdana, near here, early yesterday.
Passers-by who saw the animal in the narrow ditch around midnight alerted the State Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), which sent five workers to its rescue.
But when they faced difficulties getting the animal out, they sought the help of the Fire and Rescue Department and Civil Defence Department.
Together with residents, they tried to pull the tapir out using a rope but failed as the animal's skin was slippery. Finally, they brought the animal out of the metre-deep ditch using water hoses provided by the firefighters.
State Perhilitan director Khairiah Mohd Shariff said the male tapir was believed to be 15 years old and a totally protected species.
She said it had been a challenging task to save the animal as it usually turned aggressive at night.
"Our men managed to calm it down by offering it daun senduduk (straits rhododendron)," she said, adding that the tapir suffered few scratches on the body when it was dragged out of the ditch.
However, they were minor injuries and the animal was released into a jungle nearby about 8.30am yesterday.
Taman Kempadang Perdana resident Rahidan Osman, 68, said she had stumbled upon the animal several times before.
"Perhilitan should release the animal into a bigger forest reserve as the jungle near our housing area is getting smaller because of rapid development."
Tapir rescued from drain bolts off into forest
The Star 18 Jun 11;
BERA: A tapir which was pulled out of a drain in Kempadang Perdana, Kuantan, in a rescue operation is now lost in a nearby forest.
State Wildlife and Taman Negara department (Perhilitan) director Khairiah Mohd Shariff said the animal dashed into the forest after being pulled out and the department personnel could not gave it any medical treatment.
She said there was a struggle as the 350kg adult male tapir turned aggressive possibly due to the minor injuries it sustained, or the prolonged contact it had with humans during the rescue.
She said the 15-year-old tapir had fallen into the drain late on Thursday and was extricated at 8.30am on Friday, after a makeshift stairway was built.
“We are worried about its injuries which could become worse.
“It could be hit by passing vehicles,” she said.
Khairiah said the department was conducting a search for the tapir to have it treated.
She also said that there was only one tapir in the area and not three as claimed by villagers.