Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus)
Habitat and Distribution: Found in dense tropical lowland rainforests (that have constant pools of water) in Southern Burma, Malay Peninsula, Southeast Thailand and Sumatra.
Size: 6–8 feet in length; 3–3½ feet tall at the shoulder, 650–950 pounds
Wild Diet: Tender leaves, shoots, and fruit from various plants
Predators: Humans and tigers
Lifespan: Up to 20 years in the wild; up to 30 years in captivity
Reproduction: Maturity is generally reached at about three years of age. Typically Malayan tapirs give birth to a single offspring after a gestation of 390–403 days. There appears to be no seasonal breeding period. Baby tapirs have extra camouflaged coloring to help protect them. They look like roly-poly brown watermelons!
Behavior: Malayan tapirs spend most of their time alone, but have been found to live in pairs. They are good climbers and can easily climb steep slopes. If they are scared or startled they can gallop off with surprising speed. They are mostly nocturnal, though they have been described as being active during the day. When excited they squeal, make ear-piercing whistles, and spray large amounts of urine. When greeting another tapir they make clicking sounds.
Conservation
Status: Endangered. Habitat destruction and over hunting are the two main factors contributing to their endangered status. Habitat destruction is mainly due to an increase of agriculture (farming), logging, mining, and cattle grazing. They are hunted for food by some local people.
Interesting Facts
The nose and upper lip are quite long and help them to reach tall plants and pull in large mouthfuls of grasses. Tapirs have thick skin to help protect themselves from tigers and sharp branches throughout the forest. They can sink and walk along the bottom of lakes and ponds to escape predators. Their closest relatives are horses and rhinoceroses.