Once in a while, we like to highlight non-car stories, and this time it is about the Malayan tapir which is fast disappearing from our jungles. To raise awareness of the endangered tapir, as well as funds to aid its conservation, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has teamed up with Tarik Jeans, a local denim streetwear brand, to feature an exclusively designed capsule collection – “Modern Nostalgia”.
Pic: Wikipedia
The Malayan tapir (also called the Asian or Oriental tapir) is unique because it is the only tapir species found in the Old World (Asia) and is the largest tapir species; the other three (maybe four) known species are found in the New World (Central and South America). The Malayan tapir or tenuk has a distinctive black and white coat pattern which it uses as camouflage. The tapir has poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell, and can live up to 30 years.
Although it has few natural predators, its existence is threatened by agricultural developments and deforestation, hunting for food and sport as well as illegal wildlife trafficking. Its numbers have significantly decreased over years and it is estimated that there are less than 3,000 left in the wild. The tapir used to be found as far north as Myanmar but is now only found in Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and Southern Thailand.
“The Malayan Tapir is an endangered species here, together with the Malayan tigers, Borneo elephants and orangutans. As ‘gardeners of the rainforest’, the tapir plays a crucial role in maintaining the biological diversity of their habitat as they help disperse and fertilize seeds much needed for the reproduction of trees,” he added.
Merchandise from the “Modern Nostalgia” collection can be purchased on Volkswagen’s and Tarik Jeans’ website, Shopee, Zalora and at all Volkswagen authorised dealers. Half of all the proceeds generated from the sale of this campaign will be donated to the Kenaboi Forest Reserve in Negeri Sembilan on World Tapir Day, 27 April.
We lost our last Sumatran rhinoceros not too long ago, so let us not lose another native species.
Keyword: Volkswagen And Tarik Jeans Team Up To Save The Malayan Tapir