In pictures: Edinburgh Zoo welcomes arrival of rare tapir
Nadira gets used to life at Edinburgh Zoo. Picture: Ian Georgeson
AN UNDER-THREAT baby tapir has been born at Edinburgh Zoo, much to the delight of keepers.
Nadira, a Malayan tapir, which is a member of the rhino family, arrived at the facility three weeks ago and is the fourth baby for parents Sayang and Ka.
The striped and spotted animal is now exploring her surroundings, watched closely by her “experienced” mother.
One of a species threatened with extinction in the wild and difficult to breed in captivity, the new arrival was introduced to the public for the first time yesterday.
Keeper Lorna Hughes said: “We’re really pleased with how both mum and daughter are doing. Sayang is an experienced mum and she’s brilliant.
“She has been protective and attentive, but still relaxed about everything. Nadira is feeding well and going outside to explore.”
Father Ka is being introduced to Nadira, whose name means “precious gift” in Malayan, for short periods of time.
The Malayan tapir is classed by conservation experts as endangered, with wild populations expected to decline by more than 50 per cent in the next 36 years.
Found in the forests of Malaysia, Thailand, Burma and Sumatra, Malayan tapirs are endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.
They are also prey for large carnivores, such as tigers and leopards.
The young are distinguished from their parents by the presence of white stripes and spots on their coats which fade as they get older.
Their long nose makes them very distinctive and are used in much the same way an elephant would use its trunk to grasp food and pull it apart.
The species is classified as endangered and faces a high risk of becoming extinct in the wild.
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