HOME PLAN YOUR VISIT ANIMALS & GARDENS WHAT’S ON GET INVOLVED EDUCATION SHOP ONLINE CONSERVATION HOME : ANIMALS & GARDENS : MAMMALS : BRAZILLIAN TAPIR BRAZILLIAN TAPIR (Tapirus terrestris) STATUS Vulnerable SIZE Up to 108cm high. Females are up to 220cm long whilst males are slightly shorter. AGE Up to 35 years in captivity. HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION Found in the riverside rainforest of South America, in Venezuela, Colombia, south Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. WHAT THEY EAT Tapirs are generalised browsers and grazers. They eat fruits, leaves, stems, shoots, grasses, aquatic plants, tree bark, aquatic organisms and also plantation crops. Found in the riverside rainforest of South America, in Venezuela, Colombia, South Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Animal Facts One of the most distinguishable characteristics of the Brazilian Tapir is its proboscis (the upper lip and nose), which is long, flexible and prehensile. It is covered with sensory vibrissae which are similar in function to a cat’s whiskers. Their proboscis is used for grasping leaves and also as a snorkel when swimming under water. The oldest female tapir to give birth in captivity gave birth at the age of 28. This is the rough equivalent of a woman giving birth at the age of 98! Despite their appearance, tapirs are surprisingly agile and can swim, gallop and climb. Deforestation, hunting and competition with domestic livestock have all contributed to the decline and fragmentation of lowland tapir populations. Young tapir are spotty and stripy. This adaptation assists in camouflaging them before they become independent. Tapirs are “seed dispersers.” They eat seeds that are then dispersed in their poo which, in turn, helps the forest to regenerate. The skin of a tapir is remarkably thick to allow it to resist attacks from jaguars, which are their main natural predators. A large number of tapirs bear claw marks from jaguar attacks. ANIMALS & GARDENS Birds Mammals Primates & Small Mammals Reptiles & Amphibians Gardens Web Cams ADOPT AN ANIMAL Provide a helpful contribution towards the costs of keeping and feeding the animals. GET INVOLVED Go behind the scenes and be a keeper for a day or experience an animal encounter. SHOP ONLINE Shop online for Day E-tickets, Annual membership, Adoptions and much more. ABOUT US MEDIA CENTRE CONTACT US VACANCIES WORK EXPERIENCE COOKIES PRIVACY POLICY TERMS & CONDITIONS Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, Bradwell Grove, Burford, Oxfordshire OX18 4JP T: +44 (0) 1993 823 006 E: enquiries@cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk Registered office: Bradwell Grove, Burford Oxfordshire OX18 4JP | Registered in England No. 1005032. © 2021 Copyright Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens. Our website uses cookies. You can read how we use them in ourcookie information.// ACCEPT //