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Project Noah Nature School
Tapirus terrestris
The tapir can weigh three hundred kilograms. It has three toes on their hind feet and an additional, much smaller in front. It has a flexible trunk, and with prehensile hair, which smells and feels damp.
This species lives in the savannah region of Tocantins.
Arrived at Aratama project with a few years old and orphan. www.iecosbrasil.org
Tapirs are excellent swimmers and can even dive to feed on aquatic plants. They also wallow in mud, perhaps to remove pesky ticks from their thick hides. Happy World Tapir Day 2013!
As my daughter says: how cute!
Thank you for the additional information you provide.
ARATAMA, a Wildlife Refuge - In the native language called Tupi, ARATAMA means land of Parrots, but here in ARATAMA project not only parrots, but also macaws, anteaters, rhea and many other animals that need care live harmoniously together. Victims of trafficking, trampled on road by cars and illegally captured, in ARATAMA these animals find care and affection to be rehabilitated and returned safely to nature. Many animals get stressed out by abuse at home, others have injuries and also have those with an advanced domestication state.
Since 2007, when the biologist Marissônia Lopes became the Coordinator of the department of Protected Areas in the governmental institution NATURATINS, she faced the critic challenge of taking care of the wild animals in the State of Tocantins. For almost three years it was hard to fight against the problems. It was necessary do concrete actions, something that could at least partially solve the problem of these animals. After many attempts and no success, in 2010, she decided to follow another path in this fight. So in May, 2010 it was created Aratama, a Wildlife Refuge.
Apart from hunting, habitat destruction is one of the factors observed for the occurrence of its decline. In the region of Tocantins have problems with fires and deforestation of large areas for grazing and soy monocultures.
LOVE this adorable animal! Congratulations!
I'm sure that they are protected, but have they ever been hunted in large numbers for their beautiful fur? Just wondering.
Prehensile hair!!! I'd sure like to see that. Sounds like Harionago. Congratulations.
So amazing! I never saw a tapir with stripes like a zebra. Very cool! Congratulations!
Beautiful spotting. You could add this to the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation mission: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/9974...
Spotted on Nov 8, 2012
Submitted on Nov 8, 2012
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