Danta (Baird's Tapir)

Description:

Baird’s Tapir has a distinctive cream-colored marking on its face and throat and a dark spot on each cheek, behind and below the eye. The rest of its hair is dark brown or grayish-brown. The animal is the largest of the three American species and the largest land mammal found in the wild from Mexico to South America. Baird’s Tapirs average up to 2 metres in length and 1.2 metres in height, and adults weigh 150–400 kilograms. Like the other species of tapir, they have small stubby tails and long, flexible proboscises. They have four toes on each front foot and three toes on each back foot. May be active at all hours, but is primarily nocturnal. It forages for leaves and fallen fruit, using well-worn tapir paths which zig-zag through the thick undergrowth of the forest. The animal usually stays close to water and enjoys swimming and wading. On particularly hot days, individuals will rest in a watering hole for hours with only their heads above the water. It generally leads a solitary life, though feeding groups are not uncommon, and individuals, especially those of different ages (young with their mothers, juveniles with adults) are often observed together. The animals communicate with one another through shrill whistles and squeaks. Adults can be potentially dangerous to humans if approached. When people come too close to them, tapirs may follow or even chase them for while. People have been charged and, on rare occasions, gored by tapirs.

Habitat:

Is native to Central America and northern South America

Notes:

This one is "Romeo" he lives at la Marina zoo (Alajuela, Costa Rica) and is part of the breeding and reintroduction program of this zoo, which have been very succesful with at least 14 births in captivity