Fota Wildlife Park are asking the public for their help to name a male Brazilian Tapir calf born on September 13 to mother Maya and father Basil.
The young Tapir calf will join a four-strong herd including brother Thiago who is 2 ½ years old and sister is Sofia, 16 months.
The Brazilian Tapir calf is distinguished from the older members of the herd in that it has a striking coat of pale spots and stripes on a reddish-brown background which helps to camouflage it in the wild.
The herd also have another exciting addition to their habitat in the form of a state of the art Tapir House, which has just been opened to public viewing.
The species has been classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the reasons for their decline in the wild include habitat loss, illegal hunting and competition with livestock.
A relative of the primitive horse and Rhinoceros, the Brazilian Tapir is one of four species of Tapir in the world.
It can weigh up to 250 kg, measure two metres in length and has a long, flexible snout that helps collect food.
The name Tapir comes from the Brazilian word for ‘thick’, which is a reference to its tough skin.
The Tapir inhabits the rainforests of South America; it lives near water which it uses to escape from predators such as jaguars and pumas and they are capable swimmers and divers.
If you wish to suggest a name for the new calf and be in win a chance of winning a Conservation Membership, Fota Wildlife Park are accepting suggestions via their blog – www.fotawildlife.ie/blog
