Save the Malayan Tapir

• SD Guthrie to collaborate with PERHILITAN on Malayan Tapir conservation efforts  

Petaling Jaya, 11 May 2026 – SD Guthrie Berhad (Guthrie) announced its intent to collaborate with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) Peninsular Malaysia as a strategic partner in advancing the conservation of the Malayan Tapir.

The Malayan Tapir or scientifically known as Tapirus indicus is classified an endangered species on The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List, and the Red List of Mammals for Peninsular Malaysia. Its population is declining with fewer than 2,500 mature individuals remaining in the wild as of assessment published in 2016 (IUCN).

The species is a uniquely significant within Malaysia’s natural heritage, and continues to face increasing threats from habitat fragmentation, land-use changes, and other environmental pressures. Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated and inclusive approach involving government agencies, the private sector, and local communities.

Speaking at a recent event to celebrate World Tapir Day, Guthrie's Chief Sustainability Officer, Rashyid Redza Anwarudin, called for a holistic approach by government agencies, the private sector and communities to collaborate on the conservation of wildlife like the Malayan Tapir.

“The Malayan Tapir is a unique and important part of our nation’s biodiversity, yet it faces growing challenges that require a more collective and coordinated response. We are excited to partner with PERHILITAN in this collaboration, which will bring together PERHILITAN’s policy leadership and technical expertise, and Guthrie’s platforms, reach and community engagement capabilities,” he said.

Guthrie’s conservation efforts are anchored in a landscape-level approach that integrates biodiversity protection within its operational footprint. As of 2025, the Group has conserved and restored 51,212 hectares of land across its operations and surrounding landscapes, supporting critical habitats and ecological connectivity for wildlife, including the Malayan Tapir.  

These efforts are part of a broader commitment to conserve and restore more than 100,000 hectares by 2030, with a focus on protecting High Conservation Value areas and strengthening ecological corridors across Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands.

Complementing habitat protection, Guthrie continues to strengthen its species conservation approach through active restoration and ongoing biodiversity monitoring initiatives across its operating landscapes. In 2025, 19 camera traps were deployed within estates to support ongoing wildlife monitoring and inform conservation management actions. These efforts have recorded the presence of rare, threatened, and endangered (RTE) species such as the Malayan Tapir, and others.

Through its Conservation & Biodiversity Unit, Guthrie aims to support the implementation of the Malayan Tapir Conservation Action Plan (MATCAP), particularly under the Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA) component.

Key areas of collaboration include:
•    Supporting habitat protection and ecological corridors within operational landscapes
•    Organising joint field-based conservation initiatives
•    Implementing mitigation measures to reduce risks to tapir populations
•    Enhancing awareness among estate management and surrounding communities

The partnership is envisioned as a long-term collaboration, beginning with this strategic alignment and potentially progressing towards a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the future.

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