Habitat
Swampy or hill forests.
Geographical spread
Honduras, Mexico (although possibly already extinct) through Central
America to Colombia and Equador west of Andes.
Status
CITES Appendix 1, US-ESA endangered, considered vulnerable by the IUCN.
Size
Head and body length 1,930-2,000mm, tail length 70-100mm.
Weight
150-300kg.
Average life expectancy
30 years.
Normal diet
Herbivorous. Feeds on browse, grass and fruits.
Normal lifestyle
Nocturnal and diurnal, terrestrial and usually solitary apart from family groups
(mother and young). Spend 90% of their time feeding. Sometimes sleep in water and tapirs are
excellent swimmers. They are good climbers. These animals are territorial and mark their
territories and daily routes with urine. As they walk with their noses close to the ground they can
probably detect their whereabouts and the presence of other tapirs and predators. Breeding
occurs throughout the year. Females find a secluded lair and usually give birth to a single young
every 18 months or so. The young stay with their mother until they are well grown, but may
begin to travel independently at 6-8 months. Baird's tapirs mature at 2-3 years.
Reasons for decline
They have been hunted for food, sport and for their thick skins, which
are used to make whips and bridles. The greatest threat is habitat destruction caused by
logging, clearing land for agriculture or man-made developments.
Current threats
Deforestation.
Conservation projects
File last modified Thursday, October 3, 1996