But one passionate artist is hoping to make just as big a name for the Malayan tapir, an endangered species instantly recognisable for its striking black and white coat.
Having dabbled in various forms of art, Yew Souf is now promoting his artwork and craft under the brand “Malaysian Unity of Cultures” or MUOC, with the tapir as its chosen mascot, as according to him, the tapir best reflects Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage.
For the 49-year-old, the Malayan tapir embodies the beauty of Malaysia’s cultural diversity.
“I chose the tapir as my brand’s trademark because it resembles a combination of different animals, such as the panda, elephant, and hippopotamus. The Malayan tapir’s appearance reflects the complexity and diversity of Malaysia’s identity,” he said, in reference to the various races that make up Malaysian society.
He explained that the acronym MUOC also sounded identical to the Chinese word for tapir.
The Bukit Mertajam native said inspiration for the brand struck when he found himself looking high and low for an affordable yet meaningful souvenir that would accurately represent what Malaysia stood for.
He launched his first batch of handmade products under MUOC in 2014, incorporating the image of the Malayan tapir into shirts, postcards, ceramics, bookmarks, and face masks. He later incorporated other animals found in Malaysia, from leatherback turtles and dusky leaf monkeys to hornbills.
The venture started as a side gig for Yew Souf, who described it as a hobby and after-work stress-reliever. But the items soon gained popularity and they are now available in shops and bazaars in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Yew Souf said he hoped to use the funds he raised to support the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre in its conservation efforts for the Malayan tapir.
“Annually, we raise around RM4,000 to RM5,400. So far, we have already contributed around RM21,100 to the centre, and we will continue to raise even more funds.”
Customers can also “adopt” a ceramic tapir at RM150 a piece, and stand a chance to receive a special invitation to the Sungai Dusun centre where they can visit the tapirs in their enclosures.
According to Yew Souf, most of the tapirs here are recovering from minor injuries suffered in the wild or after getting lost. The centre treats them, then releases them back into the wild once they are deemed healthy.
The centre also serves as a breeding station for tapirs during mating season which falls in May and June, in order to help increase their population. The gestation period for a baby tapir is up to 13-and-a-half months.
Part of the funds raised by MUOC is used to help spread awareness about the Malayan tapir through workshops, talks, and exhibitions in schools, kindergartens, and nurseries.
However, Yew Souf found that it was the children’s parents that were often more excited about these programmes.
“Perhaps it’s because adults understand what we’re trying to do and the benefits of our programme. Adults are more aware about this endangered animal and understand our role in educating their children and future generations.”
He maintained that there was an urgent need to generate greater interest and educate people about Malayan tapirs as they have been listed as a threatened species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s “Red List” since 2008.
According to Perhilitan, the country’s wildlife and national parks department, the number of Malayan tapirs in West Malaysia is estimated to be fewer than 1,500.
Malaysia’s ‘biological’ heritage
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) has urged the government to teach schoolchildren about the country’s “biological heritage”, saying conservation work relied heavily on educating the masses.
MNS president Vincent Chow has called for the education ministry to work closely with the NGO, warning that failure to take action now could see the Malayan tapirs’ population fall as low as that of Malayan tigers.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there were less than 150 Malayan tigers in existence as of 2022.
Chow said the construction of highways was one of the main reasons for the dwindling population of tapirs as many of the expressways encroached into their habitat.
“Tapirs may cross these highways, exposing themselves to oncoming vehicles. This is where tapirs are very often killed,” he said.
According to Perhilitan’s statistics, some 115 Malayan tapirs were killed by oncoming vehicles in the peninsula from 2006 to 2019. It was reported that 24 tapirs were killed in 2021 alone.
Chow said MNS was collaborating with Perhilitan to develop a national Malayan tapir plan to minimise threats to the species and create a “green zone” for them.
He added that all Malaysians should play a part in nature conservation activities, and pressure the government to place greater focus on wildlife conservation.