Lee and his team with the baby tapir.

KUALA LUMPUR: There is an English idiom that states that in doing good things, good things will come to you. 

This karma cycle seems to hold true for property developer JL99 Group executive chairman Datuk Seri Jeff Lee as another gift in the form of a baby tapir was born in his 99 Wonderland Park Wildlife in the City just before the Chinese New Year.

The park, one of Lee’s and JL99 Group’s many corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects, comprises a 23-acre lake and a mini zoo, housing many animals loaned by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan).

The endangered Malayan Tapir is the world’s biggest and is only found in Asia. It ranges today from Peninsular Malaysia to Myanmar and Thailand, and the island of Sumatra. 

Tapirs have a lifespan of 30 years and are an endangered species, which is now totally protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.

As part of the effort under the Malayan Tapir Ex-Situ Conservation Programme, Perhilitan granted the approval to loan a pair of Malayan tapirs named Mr Junior and Mrs Peradong to park, which is also home to thousands of animals including crocodiles, sun bears, raccoons and deer.

Happy discovery

The pair of tapirs were moved to their new exhibit at 99 Wonderland Park Wildlife In The City in January last year. Provided with an exclusive jacuzzi pool and a big open space for them to move freely and happily, the environment served conducive for the pair to mate and on Sept 29 last year, Mr Peradong was confirmed to be pregnant.

This was great news for 99 Wonderland Park Wildlife In The City, which was also awarded with the World Excellence Tourism Awards 2020 for the First Malayan Tapir With Jacuzzi Exhibit In The World.

From that day onwards, Lee formed a team to work together for Mrs Peradong’s birth management plans, which covered a scope of activities including pre- and post-natal care of regular veterinary check-ups, proper diets, ultrasound examinations as well as blood tests to monitor the progress and to ensure the healthy development of the calf. 

On Feb 6, Mrs Peradong delivered a healthy female calf weighing 10.1kg. 

“We have been monitoring the female baby tapir closely and she is doing wonderful, being able to walk and run well. It has been a joyful moment for everyone to watch it grow along with her mother Mrs Peradong and father Mr Junior,” said Lee. 

Chance to win RM10,000

For this unnamed female baby tapir, 99 Wonderland Park Wildlife In The City is holding the Name our Baby Tapir contest to attract Malaysians to celebrate its birth and create awareness of the endangered species. 

The winner of the contest, which will be announced on April 27 in conjunction with the celebration of World Tapir Day, will walk away with RM10,000. Details are available on the JL99 Group website and Facebook page.

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