A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Tapirus terrestris
Also known as the South American Tapir, they grow to 1.8 - 2.5m (approx 6 - 8') and average 225kg (about 500lbs) in weight although individuals of 320kg or around 700lbs have been recorded. Uniform dark brown coat with a pale face and short black erect crest running from the fore head down to the shoulders. A short tail, rounded ears with a white outer edge and the characteristic short, trunk-like snout.
Usually found near water, the range of this species has been greatly reduced and it is now listed as vulnerable. This individual was spotted crossing the road in-front of our vehicle on the road from Cuiaba to Port Jofre in the Pantanal. This is a rare sighting in the middle of the day.
The largest native terrestrial mammal in the Amazon. Although vulnerable in its own right it is actually the least threatened of all the Tapir species.
Spotted on Oct 24, 2015
Submitted on Aug 13, 2016
18 Comments
Thank you Daniele and Sergio for your comments. I am so pleased to help bring awareness to these wonderful animals.
Congratulations Robert.
It was just the perfect choice for #WorldTapirDay Robert :-)
Wow. I was amazed to see this selected for another sotd in such quick succession. Thank you and also thank you to everyone who has left a comment in support. I am pretty sure this is the only sporting I have put up that has been awarded 2x sotd. A great honour and much appreciated.
Congratulations on a great SOTD Rob! Thank you for sharing :)
Cool spotting, Rob. These are interesting animals. Congrats on being chosen to represent #WorldTapirDay!
Nice shot Triggs. They are magnificent animals. Congratulations on your SOTD.
Congratulations on your SOTD. A great photo, especially lucky to have seen it in the middle of the day!
Right now you seem to be providing us with a great spotting for every special occasion Robert! Congratulation, your Brazilian Tapir has been chosen to mark #WorldTapirDay:
"Today is #WorldTapirDay! Created to raise awareness about the plight of all tapir species in Central and South America and in Southeast Asia, World Tapir Day has been celebrated each year on April 27th since 2008. All tapir habitats, that being jungles, grasslands, swamps or cloud forests, are threatened by some form of human activity - mostly mining, plantations, roads or settlements. One of the oldest surviving genera in the animal kingdom, tapirs play an important role in ecosystems as seed dispersors. The four tapir species that have been evaluated are all classified on the IUCN Red List as Endangered or Vulnerable.
To find about more about tapirs and their significance in conservation: https://buff.ly/2GHzsjy "
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/pho...
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/1...
Thank you Polilla, Luis and Jim for your kind comments.
Thank you Robert! This was pointed out on our official Facebook page too and I've made the change there.
Thank you Ashley for the SOTD. An honour as ever. I always try to be as accurate as i can with my spottings. I must note that in my original entry I stated that this species was the biggest of the five species of tapir. That was incorrect as the Malaysian Tapir is. I have corrected my entry and apologies for any misconception I may have caused.
Well Done, Triggs!
Congrats triggsturner!
Congrats, this amazing spotting has been selected as Spotting of the Day!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/pho...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/7...
Thank you Hema for your support and comment on this spotting.
Wow indeed. What a beautiful animal and picture!!Well done as always,Trigg,
Thank you Polilla. I have only seen them at night before so was very suprised to see this one. It wasn't hanging around so was luck to get the image.