Tapirs spend as much time in the water as on land and they are excellent swimmers. The unique long nose is used as a snorkel and to gather food.
They have excellent hearing and sense of smell, but poor eyesight. Our two tapirs are a mother and son pair named Muffin and Zico. They love nothing more than having a swim in their river followed by a tummy tickle from their keepers.
Scientific Name:
Tapirus terrestris
Status:
Vulnerable
Size:
1.7 to 2 m
Weight:
225 to 250 Kg
Life span in wild:
30 years
Habitat:
Tropical forests, rainforests
Diet:
Herbivore
