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  • Night Safari
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  • Malayan Tapir

Malayan Tapir

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Quick facts

Lifespan

Lifespan25-30 years in the wild and up to 36 years under human care

Diet

DietLeaves, fruits, club moss, grasses, tubers and aquatic plants

Habitat

HabitatRainforests, lower montane forests and secondary forests

Range

RangeFrom Southern Thailand, southern Myanmar to the Malayan Peninsula, Sumatra and Indonesia

The Malayan Tapir

Malayan tapir

Tapir spotting

The Malayan tapir has a dramatic coat pattern, often referred to as the "saddle" pattern because of its position and shape. The front half of their body and hind legs are black, while the sides are white. This breaks up its outline and creates an illusive vision of a boulder.

Which is why guests are always amazed by the appearance of a tapir on the tram route. You don’t see them until they’re right by the tram, sometimes an arm’s length from where you’re seated!

Malayan tapir

Calf Survival

Newborn calves are even more elusive than adults. Their coat is streaked with white spots and stripes, keeping them well camouflaged on the sun-dappled forest floor. It’s their only chance against predators like tigers or leopards, till they’re strong enough to keep up with Mum on her foraging trips.

Calves start on solids at two weeks and can swim when three weeks old. By this time, they’re following their mothers everywhere — resting, investigating and swimming together.

Malayan tapir

Agile tapirs

Tapirs are fast and agile swimmers. You might see our tapirs taking a dip in the pond in their exhibit, to cool off or wash away skin parasites. Tapirs are known to walk along riverbeds, holding their breath for up to 90 seconds.

Alternatively, they use their trunk as a snorkel! The trunk also works like a hand to bring food to the mouth and to probe unfamiliar objects.

Together for wildlife

Breeding success

Breeding success

We are proud to have successfully bred endangered species like the Malayan tapir in our parks. In fact, they’re doing so well we’ve sent some off to places as far-flung as Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark. Through breeding and exchange programmes with other zoos, we strengthen the genetic pool of the animals after our care to ensure their future survival.

The IUCN Status

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

DD

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

LC

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

NT

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

EW

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

EX

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity

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