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KUALA LUMPUR – Hatten Hotel in Melaka had an unexpected guest this morning when a tapir wandered into its premises and ended up on the fifth floor.
A team of eight was deployed after the Melaka Tengah Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 9.04am today.
The successful capture of the tapir was aided by personnel from the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), said operations commander Sofian Hassan in a statement.
He added that the animal was later handed over to Perhilitan for further action and the rescue operation ended at about 2.30pm.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported state Perhilitan director Mohd Firdaus Mahmood said the tapir, weighing 250-290kg, has been moved to the Melaka Zoo to treat minor wounds on its legs.
After that, the animal will be sent to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Sungkai, Perak.
He added that Perhilitan has been trying to track the tapir for two weeks, believing that it wandered off the jungles north of Melaka.
The Malayan Tapir (tapirus indicus), also known as the Asian Tapir, is native to the Malay peninsula and Sumatra.
It has been on the IUCN Red List as an endangered species since 2008. – The Vibes, January 1, 2023