The Malayan Tapir or Asian Tapir is the largest of all four species of tapir and the only one native to Southeast Asia, where it once was distributed in the wild throughout the tropical lowland rainforests of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The animal is dark grey to black with grayish white markings, that extends from its shoulders to its rump, while the tips of its ears are also rimmed with white. It has a short, prehensile snout, rather poor eyesight but excellent hearing and sense of smell.