10 Endangered Animals in Malaysia

October 29, 2021 | Aishath Shanasa

Sustainable agriculture practices are now widely implemented via the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil
(MSPO), Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO),
International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) certification schemes to stem an alarming
loss of biodiversity and to protect endangered species.

With the rate of biodiversity at a steady decline, animal population has reduced to approximately
80,000, with their homes under habitat loss due to unsustainable agricultural practices. Let’s have a
look at the top 10 endangered animals in Malaysia:

1. Bornean Orangutan (Critically Endangered)

Photo credit: lifeofmaju.comThe forests of Indonesia and Malaysia are the only homes to
orangutans. Known as ‘person of the forest’ in the Malay language, they are the largest tree-
living mammal in the world and are highly intelligent as they display the use of tools and
culture in the wild. They spend most of their lives in high treetops. They have an
extremely low reproductive rate as they are generally seen living in solitude and once the
mother gives birth, the infant only stays with the mother until sexual maturity. Meaning that
their population could take a long time to recover from population decline. Currently there
are 104,700 individuals left in the wild.

2. Rhinoceros Hornbill (Vulnerable)

Photo credit: billionswonderz.blogspotThe Rhinoceros Hornbill, found only in the forests

of peninsular Malaysia and the islands of Sumatra, Java and Borneo, having prominent
golden-yellow horns, called a casque with black feathers on their wings and body and their
tail feathers white, males with orange or red ring around their eyes while the females have a
white ring is the state bird for the Malaysian state of Sarawak is vulnerable due to hunting
and habitat loss.
3. Sumatran Rhino (Critically Endangered)

Photo credit: lifegate.comThese smallest rhinos are also the closest living relatives to the
now-extinct woolly rhinos. Due to its rapid rate of decline, these are the most endangered of
all rhinoceros species. Without rhinos helping to sustain plant biodiversity and grazing lawns,
the African savannas will become less hospitable to other herbivore species.
Only 30 individuals are known to be left in the wild.

4. Black Shrew (Data deficient)

Photo credit: owlcation.comA mouse-like mammal that has been only spotted in Kota
Kinabalu, Sabah where shrews are so rare that a sighting is hard to come by.
Highly territorial animals that only socialize with one another during mating season. These
mammals are known to be harmless to plants, and sleep under leaf litter and grass and they
travel through existing mole tunnels. Due to this, they are known to be highly beneficial in
gardens. They are a vital source of food for other animals as they improve soil conditions by
providing aeration and fertilization services.

5. Malayan Tiger (Critically Endangered)

Photo credit: sciencesenseiThese beautiful creatures that inhabit the southern and central
parts of the Malay Peninsula, are vital to keep the population of their prey species in
check as an apex predator, which in turn maintains the balance in the ecosystem. From 3,000
tigers in the 1950s, the number of Malayan Tigers left has declined to about 80-120.
6. Malayan Tapir (Endangered)

Photo credit: malaysiakini.comClosely related to the elephant and rhino, Malayan Tapirs exist
in only three regions of Southeast Asia including Malaysia. There are about 2,499 Malayan
Tapirs left. They are the largest of the four widely recognized species of tapir, native to the
Old World. Known as the “umbrella species”, they indirectly protect other species such as
monkeys, deer, wild cats and many other varieties of reptiles and plants. They are masters at
dispersing seeds, leaving them to be fertilized well, providing themselves and other wildlife
with an ongoing supply of food and shelter.

7. Proboscis Monkey (Endangered)

Photo credit: borneotoday.net Another Old-World monkey with an unusually large nose, a
reddish-brown skin colour and a long tail. It’s home to Borneo and is usually found
in mangrove forests and on the coastal areas of the island. Primate world’s
most accomplished swimmers, as they leap from tree branches into the river and out again.
Their webbed feet help in successfully out-swimming aquatic predators such as crocodiles.
Their swimming skills also come in handy when they need to swim across deep waters, in
search of food or safe land away from predators.

8. Sunda Pangolin (Critically Endangered)

Photo credit: kemperbiologychs.blogspotThese are unique creatures that are covered

in hard, plate-like scales and large, curved claws that they use for excavating ant and termite
nests. Sunda Pangolin are some of the most heavily trafficked protected animals in the world
as their scales, meat and skin are believed to possess medicinal benefits which are sold for
 hefty prices. They are known as natural pest controllers as they regulate ant and termite
populations. It’s estimated that they consume about 70 million insects per year, guarding the
forests from termite destruction.

9. Sun Bear (Vulnerable)

Photo credit: bunjywunjy.tumblrIt is the smallest bear, standing at 70 centimeters and is a

species found in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. It is believed that there are less
than 1000 of these individuals left in the wild. They dig for invertebrates in the soil,
which enhances the forest’s nutrient cycle through the mixing of rich and poor soil, while
also dispersing seeds and keeping the termite populations down.

10. Banteng (Endangered)

Photo credit: wikimedia.orgKnown better as ‘tembadau’ locally, this wild cattle species gets
mistaken for the average domesticated cow. Experts have said that there’s only 4000-
8000 left in Sabah. Wild bantengs are typically larger and heavier than the domesticated cow.
They are important in nutrient cycling and influencing the composition of plant communities
through their grazing and browsing activities.

What can be done to protect Malaysia’s endangered species?

Trees are cut down to provide room for palm oil plantations which are vital for the Malaysian
economy. Similarly, the timber industry is just as vital as being among the world’s largest exporters of
tropical logs, plywood, sawn timber and furniture.

Malaysia is currently looking into diversifying the economy and using our forests in a tightly
controlled, more sustainable manner to allow for palm oil production and timber products.
Photo credits: worldwildlife.org

Finding a balance between the economy’s demands, infrastructure that supports local communities,
tourism, the need to protect the habitats and the well-being of endangered species is a fine line,
which is difficult to achieve.

The key to saving Malaysia’s endangered wildlife lies in educating the local communities about the
value of Malaysia’s wildlife, both in the forests and in the seas.

What is being done?

Extinction is not inevitable, and we shouldn’t be discouraged from taking action. With the threat of
extinction of Malaysian endangered species accelerating, sanctuaries have become invaluable. Good
news from conservation projects shows that endangered species can be recovered. Orangutans are
protected in sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers in both Sabah and Sarawak. The national project,
Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre Sanctuary serves to protect and care for the Elephants.
The captive breeding program for the Sumatran rhino has been protecting the rhinoceroses from
getting their horns poached, since 2007.
Photo credits: naturalworldsafari.com

Even more so, the million-hectare Tun Mustafa Park by Sabah Province in the Coral Triangle
has successfully balanced conservation needs of 80,000 locals who earn a living from fishing. With
the assistance from the local fishing industry, the designated fishing zones for sustainable use has
helped to turn around the area which was previously threatened by overfishing, destructive fishing
and pollution, into now, providing protection for marine life while supporting jobs, protecting
livelihoods and providing food security for the local community.

Most importantly, sustainability standards, labels, and certification schemes such as MSPO and RSPO
take into account the importance of conserving biodiversity.