Sika tapir

The **sika tapir** (*Acrocodia elaphus*) is a species of tapir that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across India, Southeast Asia, China, Korean Peninsula, and Japan to help boost biodiversity. The sika tapir grows to between 1.8 and 2.5 meters (5.11-8.2 feet) in length, not counting a stubby tail of only 5 to 10 centimeters (2.0 to 3.9 inches) in length, and stands 90 to 110 centimeters (2.11-3.7 feet) tall. It typically weighs between 250 and 320 kilograms (550 and 710 lbs), although some adults can weigh up to 540 kilograms (1,190 lbs). The females are usually larger than the males. Like many other tapir species, it has a small, stubby tail and a long, flexible proboscis. It has four toes on each front foot and three toes on each back foot. The sika tapir has rather poor eyesight, but excellent hearing and sense of smell. The sika tapir is one of the few tapir species that does not lose its spots or stripes upon reaching maturity. Spot and stripe patterns vary with region. Sika tapirs are primarily solitary, marking out large tracts of land as their territory, though these areas usually overlap with those of other individuals. Sika tapirs mark out their territories by spraying urine on plants, and they often follow distinct paths, which they have bulldozed through the undergrowth. Exclusively herbivorous, the sika tapir forages for the tender shoots and leaves of more than 195 species of plants (around 110 are particularly preferred), moving slowly through the forest and pausing often to eat and note the scents left behind by other sika tapirs in the area. However, when threatened or frightened, the sika tapir can run quickly, despite its considerable bulk, and can also defend itself with its strong jaws and sharp teeth. Sika tapirs communicate with high-pitched squeaks and whistles. They usually prefer to live near water and often bathe and swim, and they are also able to climb steep slopes. Sika tapirs are mainly active at night, though they are not exclusively nocturnal. They tend to eat soon after sunset or before sunrise, and they will often nap in the middle of the night. This behavior characterizes them as crepuscular animals. The gestation period is about 400 days, after which one offspring is born. Multiple births are extremely rare. The babies, as with many other species of tapir, have reddish-brown hair with white spots and stripes, a camouflage which affords them excellent protection in the dappled light of the forest. For the first week of their lives, infant sika tapirs are hidden in secluded locations while their mothers forage for food, and return periodically to nurse them. Later, the young follow their mothers on feeding expeditions. At three weeks of age, the young are able to swim. Weaning occurs after one year, and sexual maturity is usually reached six to 12 months later. Sika tapirs can live for over 30 years. The conservation status of the sika tapir is **Least Concern** due to successful conservation efforts, the sika tapir's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities, allowing it to thrive in regions such as Japan, where the species is overabundant.