Brazilian Tapir

(Tapirus terrestris)

Live: East of the Columbian Andes, over most of tropical South America to the Gran Chaco Plains of Argentina

Habitat: Wet forest and grassland

Diet: Grasses, leaves, buds, soft twigs, fruits of low growing shrubs, aquatic vegetation and green shoots

Gestation: 390-400 days (13 months), 1 young born

Longevity: 30 years

Status: Endangered

General: The tapir's short, fleshy, trunk-like nose helps the animal to sniff its way through the forest and is a sensitive 'finger' used to pull leaves and shoots towards its mouth. This prehensile snout also makes a great snorkel when the tapirs are bathing. They love water and are excellent swimmers.

They are short and stocky-legged animals with four toes on their front feet and three on their hind feet. They are covered in short bristly hair.

Tapirs are agile both on open ground and in dense forests. They are generally shy and docile and will run to water or the bush when disturbed. Tapir tend to follow the same track each night, so much so that human engineers often follow their trails up the sides of mountains when constructing roads.