Brazilian Tapir

Inhabiting the rainforests of South America, the Tapir lives near water and is an excellent swimmer and diver. It uses water to escape from predators, though it is also a capable and agile runner and is adept at evading predators the likes of jaguars, pumas and anacondas. It generally only feeds at night, staying hidden under the cool forest canopy during daylight hours.

Females are only able to conceive for two or three days every couple of months and remain pregnant for over a year (13 mts), before giving birth to a single offspring. The baby will suckle for several months and even stay with its mother for a little while after it’s fully grown at 18 months.

The Brazilian Tapir is listed as Vulnerable because its population continues to decrease in the face of habitat destruction, demand for its meat and valuable hide and because of its slow reproduction rates. Tapirs were once found across the world, but disappeared from the British Isles around 100,000 years ago.

Brazilian Tapirs are born with spots and stripes and look like walking water melons initially. This coat fades over time and is totally lost after about a year. Tapirs, depending upon the species, are also found at altitudes ranging from sea level to 4,500 metres.

The Brazilian Tapir has had a presence at Fota since the early 1990s, with several calves born in Cork over the years. As well as sniffing out their own food, the species is fed willow, fruit and vegetables and absolutely love bananas. The animal is part of the South American enclosure and spends a lot of time in the heat of its house, which will be moved closer to the main road in an effort to allow visitors have a much closer vantage point.