The Malayan Tapir

The Malayan tapir is a herbivorous and nocturnal mammal that lives in Asia’s tropical rainforests. Low-hanging branches provide food for them, and the temperature is perfect to thrive. These forests are thick and dense. However, climate change, habitat loss, humans, light pollution, and deforestation are changing tropical rainforests and driving tapirs to extinction. In about 200 years, rainforests will be replaced by roads and cities. The remainder will become a grassy savannah ecosystem. The animal will need to adapt by becoming smaller and more gray. They will see color in the dark for better navigation and grow tendrils in their nose to sense things. They will grow a tail for balance and have shorter legs to dig underground, burrowing for safety. To defend themselves, Malayan tapirs’ hide will become thicker and their claws sharper. They will become omnivorous and diurnal to stay safe and cool in their changing habitat.