Tired Tapir Calf Takes a Break at Artis Zoo

When Ydra, a female South American Tapir at the Netherlands’
Artis Zoo, was restless and refused her food
last week, zoo keepers knew it wouldn’t be long before she delivered her
calf. Sure enough, on April 10, a male
calf was born and Ydra licked him clean as he lay beside her on the straw.

Named Alexandro, the calf is the first offspring for Ydra
and her mate Carlo. Though Alexandro was
delivered breech (feet first), he was healthy and strong. At just one week old, he moved into the zoo’s mixed-species
exhibit with Llamas, Maras, Capybaras, and Giant Anteaters.

Photo Credit: Artis Zoo

South American Tapirs, also known as Brazilian Tapirs, are
native to Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Paraguay, where they feed on leaves
and fruits in the Amazon rain forest. The
brown-and-white speckled coat of Tapir calves provides camouflage in the dense
forest. These Tapirs are listed as
Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Alexandro’s birth is a significant contribution
to the European breeding program for this species.

See more photos of Alexandro below the fold.