This nose knows

 

You may have never heard of me before — I’m not as well known as some of my rainforest neighbors — I’m a Malayan tapir. I’m a chill little dude and a bit shy around people. In my spare time, I enjoy eating grass, vegetation, and fruit, and after a great meal, I love to just sit by the watering hole and stay cool, sipping fresh H20 through my elephant-like short trunk. It’s the life!

I heard through the jungle vines that you’ve been taking action against Nissin Foods — the inventor of instant ramen — for their role in destroying the rainforests I call home. THANK YOU! 

Because big corporations profiting from rainforest destruction are the biggest threat to my survival. In fact, there are only 2,500 Malayan Tapirs like me left in the wild! Why? Because our homes are being destroyed for Conflict Palm Oil plantations, our water sources are being drained, and the roads that are built to the plantations also increase poaching. It’s real scary stuff!

For local small-scale farmers and Indigenous people, those big palm oil plantations often mean being forced off their ancestral lands, sometimes with brutal force. And for wildlife like me, it means no food, no water, and no place safe. 

I like comfort food just as much as anyone else, but I bet you didn’t know all that damage was packed into one tiny cup o’noodles!

Nissin claims to be using palm oil certified by the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), but in reality, it can mix Conflict Palm Oil into their supply chain at any time. That smells like a lot of pooey to me. And I don’t think it’s just because of my long nose. You’re either protecting the rainforests or you’re not! From where I’m sitting, I either have a place to live, or I don’t. 

Hey,  the thing is, even after years of pressure, Nissin is lagging behind in its commitments and me and my friends are running out of time. We gotta turn up the pressure: big brands like Nissin think they can bully people and animals around, but you won’t let them: Right? 

Nissin has made some vague promises about meeting palm oil commitments by 2030 but Indonesia’s orangutans, tigers and rhinos can’t wait until then. I certainly know I can’t! 

Thanks for all your help! It’s awesome knowing folks like you have our backs.

A Wild Tapir
Definitely Not A Staff Member
Rainforest Action Network