I have more problems with the fact that the Brazilian Tapirs are still mixed,with the Bears even after researchers have found that tapirs form part of the bears diet in the wild!Although the Tapirs and Capybara were shut in to the house and small hard standing just outside it yesterday.
I have more problems with the fact that the Brazilian Tapirs are still mixed,with the Bears even after researchers have found that tapirs form part of the bears diet in the wild!
I didn't get into that part of it, but its quite a remarkable exhibit- for quite the wrong reasons IMO. And if its actually called 'Bears of the Andes' then it represents another rather extreme example of the popular 'bigging-up' of exhibits by giving them fancy names- there's nothing remotely 'Andean' about this depressing patch of ground.
Have the Tapirs ever bred here? Presumably a newborn calf would be killed if it happened to be born with the bears present.
I don't think the bears,even if any are recommended to breed, will become pregnant or rear cubs under these conditions-too many animals, too much stress, lack of privacy etc will count against it.
