7 FACTS ABOUT TAPIRS

Today is World Tapir Day! Check out these fun facts about tapirs and see if you can distinguish a baby tapir from a watermelon.

1. Tapirs are a large, herbivorous mammal, similar in shape to a pig, with a short, prehensile nose trunk.

2. They live in jungle and forest regions of South America, Central America and Southeastern Asia.

3. They have thick skin on the backs of their neck that helps to protect them from threats like jaguars, crocodiles, anacondas and tigers.

4. The Malayan tapir is black and white. If you squint, it looks like a little like a panda (crossed with a pig)!

5. Their closest living relatives are rhinos and horses.

6. They can wiggle their nose and use it to grab while foraging. When swimming, they can use it as a snorkel!

7. The juvenile tapir has spots and stripes. 

Is it a watermelon or a baby tapir?

Happy World Tapir Day!