Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
Is the peruvian sub species the mountain tapir? That lives in columbia and is a lot smaller than the Brazilian or Malayan.
Chester Zoo Galliformes at Chester zoo from 2000-2005
- Thread starter Writhedhornbill
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No the Peruvian Tapir is a small subspecies of the Lowland Tapir (Tapirus terrerstris). The Mountain Tapir (T.pinchaque) is a different species, though they are similar in size. I like the Malayan Tapir, it is one of the animals I first look at whenever I visit London Zoo. It is a shame they never bred successfully at Chester Zoo. Maybe they'll have some more one day. All four tapir species at Chester would be nice though.
Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
I think that they should get either Baird's or mountain Tapirs, as they are really rare in zoos. Wuppertal is the only european zoo to have the Baird's tapir and as far as I know there has not been a mountain tapir in a european zoo for about 7 years. The last one was called Anja and I can't remember what zoo she lived in. In america there are lots of zoos to hold the Baird's tapir and 4 zoos hold the mountain. Sadly all the mountain Tapirs are desended from the pair at LA, so the species is now quite inbred.
Malayan are very nice. Last time I went to London zoo they only had a male Malayan on display. I've seen both of them in the past.
For those people that don't know, Chester has 4 brazilian tapirs. They are Cusco and Jennifer, the adult pair, and Lyta, born in 2004/5 and Zak born last year. When I went on the zoo summer school last year I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of Zak. He was due on the friday of the week I was at the zoo. But he was born late on the sunday. I missed a cute Baby tapir!!! Tapirs are commonly housed with capybara, but I have seen them mixed with Vicuna, Prairie marmots and Cameroon goats.
Malayan are very nice. Last time I went to London zoo they only had a male Malayan on display. I've seen both of them in the past.
For those people that don't know, Chester has 4 brazilian tapirs. They are Cusco and Jennifer, the adult pair, and Lyta, born in 2004/5 and Zak born last year. When I went on the zoo summer school last year I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of Zak. He was due on the friday of the week I was at the zoo. But he was born late on the sunday. I missed a cute Baby tapir!!! Tapirs are commonly housed with capybara, but I have seen them mixed with Vicuna, Prairie marmots and Cameroon goats.