Native to the rainforests of South America, Brazilian tapirs are typically found near water sources. They are strong swimmers and divers, often using water to escape predators. Despite their good water skills, tapirs are also swift and agile runners, able to evade large predators like jaguars, pumas, and anacondas. Tapirs are mainly active at night, resting under the forest canopy during the daytime.

Female tapirs are only fertile for a short period every few months and have a long pregnancy lasting around 13 months, giving birth to a single calf. The young tapir will nurse for several months and may stay with its mother until it reaches about 18 months of age, when it has fully grown.

The Brazilian tapir is listed as Vulnerable due to the ongoing threats of habitat loss, poaching for its meat and hide, and slow reproductive rates. Once found across much of the world, tapirs disappeared from regions like the British Isles approximately 100,000 years ago.

Newborn Brazilian tapirs have a coat of spots and stripes that make them look like little watermelons. Over time, this distinctive pattern fades completely by the time they are about one year old. Depending on the species, tapirs can live at altitudes ranging from sea level to 4,500 metres.

Fota Wildlife Park has hosted Brazilian tapirs since the early 1990s, with several calves born at the park. Along with foraging for their own food, tapirs are fed willow, fruits, vegetables, and their favourite, bananas. These animals reside in the South American section of the park, where they enjoy a heated indoor space.