|
|
|
The utter waste behind the
Malayan tapir's impending extinction |
|
It's the pointlessness of
this one that hurts the most. No human-caused extinction has justification, but the
ongoing eradication of the Malayan tapir packs a gut punch unlike most others. It is the slaughter of a
creature doing no harm, for the benefit of absolutely no one - not even the
poachers killing them. The Malayan tapir is about
as threatening to humans as its rotund belly makes it look. They have
extremely poor eyesight, weigh as much as a grand piano, and one of their main forms of defence is to lie
completely still and hope predators mistake them for a rock. Through this bizarre, yet
brilliant, adaptation, tapirs have survived on this planet for
around 50 million years. They spend their nights
crashing through the jungles of Southeast Asia foraging for plants - always
stopping for a midnight nap - and they’re so plump that, as they move through
dense forest, they smash open trails which countless other species then use
as pathways. But today, those trails are their downfall. Poachers know how many animals use the trails, and have
started filling them with snares intended to kill tigers. But, with their terrible
eyesight, Malayan tapirs are getting caught in the crossfire. And they don’t stand a
chance. Once caught, it’s
hopeless. A terrified tapir will pull with all its weight and power, but
the snare only tightens. Eventually - often after
days of agony - they’ll succumb to the inevitable. When the poacher returns,
hoping to find a tiger, the waste of it all becomes stark: in many places
where Malayan tapirs live, pig meat is religiously prohibited, and many
people are unsure whether a tapir counts as a pig or a horse. And so, the body is simply
left to rot. Fewer than 2,500 remain. Their bruised and broken population is now on the brink
of collapse. The survivors are isolated, scattered so far
apart they are struggling to find each other and breed. If that continues, we
could see a spiral of loss from which recovery becomes impossible. But you can help change
that. Through your donations,
Fauna & Flora is clearing the snares - doubling down on putting rangers
into the field to get the tapir’s precious trails cleared, and keeping them
that way. And it’s your support - the rations, machetes, boots,
camping gear and protective equipment you supply - which keeps rangers moving. Because make no mistake,
it is not too late. There are still enough tapirs left that - with your help
- we can stop them becoming needless victims of snares that weren’t intended
for them. In doing so, you can keep
these wonderful creatures a part of our world for generations to come. |
|
|
|
Please donate now and help save tapirs. If everyone reading this donates just £3, you could help equip the dedicated rangers keeping these enchanting creatures safe. Thank you. |
No comments:
Post a Comment