Sumatran Tapirs in Way Kambas Rely on 30 Forage Plant Species

Image: article cover, from Is'ad Nabilah and Mustari (2026), Jurnal Wasian, licensed CC BY 4.0.

A research team from IPB University has identified 30 forage plant species for the Sumatran tapir (Tapirus indicus) in Rawa Bunder, Way Kambas National Park, Lampung. The study, conducted by Jihan Is'ad Nabilah and Abdul Haris Mustari, highlights forage availability as key to the survival of this protected species. The Sumatran tapir is classified as Endangered by the IUCN and is listed in Appendix I of CITES.

Of the 30 plant species from 24 families, senggani (Melastoma malabathricum) and berasan (Symplocos stenosepala) were the most frequently eaten, with frequencies of 38.10% and 28.57% respectively, based on feeding traces found. The two are complementary: senggani contains the highest crude protein, at 13.82%, while berasan has the lowest crude fibre, at 21.99%, which suits the tapir's digestion. Most of the forage plants, 12 species, are distributed in a clumped pattern.

The study also found intact seeds in tapir dung. This finding confirms the role of the Sumatran tapir as a seed disperser in Way Kambas National Park. For area managers, these data on forage species and distribution can inform habitat restoration strategies, particularly in restoration areas such as Rawa Bunder, which comprises swamp forest, lowland forest and grassland.

Source and how to cite

This story is based on the research article Composition, Distribution, and Diet of Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) in Way Kambas National Park by Jihan Is'ad Nabilah and Abdul Haris Mustari, published in Jurnal Wasian Vol. 13 No. 02 (2026). The full article is free to read on the Jurnal Wasian website.

Cite the original article (APA 7):

Is'ad Nabilah, J., & Mustari, A. H. (2026). Composition, Distribution, and Diet of Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) in Way Kambas National Park. Jurnal Wasian, 13(02), 45–55. https://doi.org/10.62142/6j33yt20

If you use these findings in coursework, a thesis or other writing, cite the original article above, not this news story. The original article is licensed CC BY 4.0.