Lowland Tapir
Tapirus terrestris
The Lowland Tapir is mainly solitary, meeting other individuals primarily during the breeding season or when a female is accompanied by her calf. An excellent swimmer, it spends much of its time near rivers and wetlands, where it finds both food and shelter. Feeding on a wide variety of fruits, it disperses the seeds of many plant species and plays a vital role in the regeneration of tropical forests, earning the nickname “gardener of the forest”. Deforestation, habitat fragmentation and hunting are the main threats to this species, which is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
IUCN RED LIST
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) classifies living species according to criteria that take into account their level of threat of extinction: the Red List is an indispensable tool for coordinating nature conservation actions, a veritable barometer of the health of our Planet.
EEP Project
This species is included in EAZA’s (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums) EEP programme for breeding endangered species.
Vive in South America
How many offspring
What does it eat
Who eats it
How long does it live
Fun Fact
A LITTLE TRUNK FOR A NOSE
It may not rival an elephant’s, but the tapir’s nose is impressive in its own right.
Using its small trunk-like snout, it grasps leaves and fruit, then disperses the seeds through its droppings, helping plants spread and reproduce.
Gli animali che vivono nella stessa area geografica
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