Malayan Tapir
What is a Malayan Tapir?
• A Malayan Tapir is a mammal that’s
relatives are the horse and rhinoceros.
• Malayans are incredibly endangered. There
are less than 1,000 Malayan Tapirs left!!
• Malayan Tapirs are very interesting
animals. You will love all of the interesting
facts that I’m going to give to you!!
Why are Malayan tapirs
Endangered??
• Malayan Tapirs are endangered because
their skin feels like leather and people are
killing them to get their skin.
• Tapirs are also endangered because in some
places a sport is to kill Malayan Tapirs. If
they catch a Malayan Tapir then they get a
special medal.
How can we help Malayan
Tapirs??
• We can help Malayan Tapirs by not buying
any products that are made of animals.
• Another idea to help Tapirs are to join any
wildlife environment program, like at zoos
and near ponds or lakes and rivers.
The Malayan’s Body
• Malayans have a incredible small mouth.
• The Malayan Tapir has a long snout that feels like
rubber.
• Malayans have a brown mane on their back that is
short and stiff.
• The Malayan Tapir has a very short tail,in fact it’s
tail is only 5-10 centimeters long!
• Malayans have four toes on their front foot and
three toes on their back feet!!
• The Malayan Tapirs are the size of a donkey!!
• Malayans are actually very fast at running away
from other enemies.
Habitat
• Most of the Tapirs live in Central and South
America.
• They also live in Burma and Thailand.
• Tapirs usually live in places with lots of supply of
water,like near rivers and swamps.
• Malayan Tapirs also live in some exhibits like The
Trail of Vines.
• Tapirs spend most of their time under water!
Diet
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Malayan Tapirs are herbivores.
Tapirs eat leaves and lettuce patches.
Malayan Tapirs are aquatic vegetarians.
If Malayan Tapirs live in the zoo they eat
alfalfa and oat hay.
Birthing
• Malayan Tapirs birth between May-June.
• Malayans usually only have one baby per
couple!
• Malayan Tapir babies only stay with their
parents for about 390-403 days!
• Some people call baby Malayan Tapirs
“watermelons with legs” because they have
white and yellow spots and stripes.
Special Details
• The record for the heaviest Malayan Tapir
weighed 1,190 pounds!!
• Malayan Tapirs have changed little in
appearance in the last 20 million years!!
• Malayan Tapir means “near India”!!
• The paper craft model of the Malayan Tapir
is believed to eat peoples nightmares!