Zoo celebrates birth of endangered tapir

Published on Friday 17 October 2008 10:33

ZOOKEEPERS in Edinburgh are celebrating a new arrival.

Indah, a Malayan tapir, was born just three weeks ago and is only the second of the rare creatures to be born at the zoo.

Now the baby tapir, whose name means 'beautiful' in Malaysian, is being watched over by protective mum Sayang.

The curious animals are mostly found in the forests of Malaysia and Thailand and have become an endangered species.

The birth of the second tapir marks a vital point in the worldwide breeding programme.

Kathleen Standen, head of hoofstock at Edinburgh Zoo, said: "Indah's the second birth for Sayang which we are delighted about because they are part of an endangered species breeding programme.

"It's a really big success for our breeding programme as the mother and father are just five years old and this is their second calf following the birth of Vasan last year."