South American tapir

Scientific name: Tapirus terrestris

IUCN listed as: Vulnerable

Learn before you visit!

Here are some facts about the species – Discover what they eat, find out about their natural habitat, see what they like to do, and more… Set the reading style to suit you too, everyday speak or something aimed towards children.

Child-friendly

Everyday

Diet

South American tapirs are herbivores, primarily feeding on leaves, fruits, and aquatic plants. They forage on a wide variety of vegetation, including grasses, stems, and buds. This diet is rich in nutrients, supporting their large size and energy needs. Tapirs play an important role in their ecosystem by dispersing seeds through their droppings. They typically feed during the night to avoid predators.

 

South American tapirs eat plants like leaves, fruits, and water plants. They help spread seeds by eating and pooping out the seeds. They mostly eat at night to stay safe from predators. Their diet keeps them strong and healthy.

 

Breeding

Breeding in South American tapirs occurs throughout the year, with a gestation period of around 13 months. Females usually give birth to a single calf, which has distinctive stripes and spots for camouflage. The mother is very protective, nursing the calf for about six months. Young tapirs are weaned gradually and stay with their mothers until they are about 18 months old. This long period of care helps ensure the calf’s survival.

 

South American tapirs can have babies any time of the year. The mother is pregnant for about 13 months and usually has one baby. The baby has stripes and spots to help it hide. It stays with its mother for about a year and a half to learn and grow.

 

Habitat

South American tapirs are found in the rainforests, grasslands, and wetlands of South America. They prefer areas with abundant water sources and dense vegetation for cover. These habitats provide ample food and protection from predators. However, habitat destruction due to deforestation and agriculture is a major threat to their survival. Conservation efforts focus on protecting these critical habitats and creating wildlife corridors.

 

South American tapirs live in rainforests, grasslands, and wetlands in South America. They like places with lots of water and plants. These areas give them food and keep them safe. Protecting their homes is important because cutting down trees and farming can hurt them.

 

At the zoo

In zoos, South American tapirs are provided with environments that mimic their natural habitats, including access to water and plenty of vegetation. They are fed a diet of fruits, vegetables, and specially formulated pellets to meet their nutritional needs. Zoos play a crucial role in conservation efforts, educating the public about tapirs and supporting breeding programs. These programs help maintain genetic diversity and boost population numbers. Observing tapirs in zoos helps people understand the importance of conserving these unique animals.

 

Zoos give South American tapirs homes with water and plants like in the wild. They eat fruits, vegetables, and special food. Zoos help protect tapirs by teaching people about them and breeding more tapirs. Watching them in zoos shows why we need to save them.

 

Behaviour

South American tapirs are mostly nocturnal and are excellent swimmers. They use water as a refuge from predators and to cool off. Tapirs are generally solitary, except for mothers with young calves. They communicate through high-pitched whistles and clicks. Their behaviour is adapted to avoid predators and find food efficiently.

 

South American tapirs are active at night and are great swimmers. They use water to hide and cool down. They usually live alone, except for mothers with babies. They make sounds like whistles and clicks to talk to each other.

Fun facts

  • Seed Dispersers: Tapirs help regenerate forests by dispersing seeds through their droppings.
  • Excellent Swimmers: They are strong swimmers and can even walk along riverbeds.
  • Prehensile Snout: Their flexible snout helps them grab leaves and fruit.
  • Long Gestation: Tapirs have one of the longest gestation periods among mammals, about 13 months.
  • Camouflaged Calves: Baby tapirs have striped and spotted coats for camouflage.
  • Forest Helpers: Tapirs help forests grow by spreading seeds.
  • Strong Swimmers: They are really good at swimming and can walk underwater.
  • Cool Snout: Their snout is like a mini trunk to grab food.
  • Long Pregnancy: Tapir moms are pregnant for over a year.
  • Spotted Babies: Baby tapirs have stripes and spots to hide better.

More animals to discover at our zoo

Quick Links

Book Ahead

Tickets & Prices

You can buy tickets for Exmoor Zoo securely online, as well as finding out more price options, discover offers, and more…

Events & Experiences

What’s on…

Exmoor Zoo hosts incredible Events all through the year. You can find out about what we’ve got in store here…

Finding Exmoor Zoo

Routes & info

Like any great discovery, Exmoor Zoo can feel a little off the beaten path – but don’t worry – you can plan your journey with our recommended routes and other useful travel info.