Tapirus indicus, more commonly known as Malayan Tapir in English and cipan or tenuk in Malay, is an iconic species to Malaysia, and is the largest among the tapir species. The Malayan Tapir is the only tapir found in Asia. A majority of its food plants are saplings and shrubs, but it is also known to eat woody lianas, vines and herbaceous plants (Simpson et al., 2013).

Tapirs, in general, have a fleshy, prehensile nose that is flexible which gives them the ability to grab leaves and feed themselves. They also have an excellent sense of smell. They have rounded ears with white tips and a stubby tail. Compared to other species of the genus Tapirus, the Malayan Tapir is easily recognisable from its physical appearance of a distinctive two-tone black and white body, with the white part extending from its shoulders to its rear end. Young tapirs are covered in brown hair with patterns of white stripes and spots which serve as an excellent camouflage amongst leaf shadows.

Presently, it is listed as an Endangered Species by the IUCN Red List as a result of declining population due to ongoing habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. The Malayan Tapir is also listed on CITES Appendix I and is totally protected under Malaysia’s Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.