Celebrating World Tapir Day at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm

We’re celebrating World Tapir Day here at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm!

Meet Toby and Tara, our two Brazilian tapirs and proud ambassadors for their species. Brazilian tapirs are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, so raising awareness about them is more important than ever.

Did you know tapirs are often called “living fossils”? They’ve remained relatively unchanged for the past 20 million years and are considered some of the most primitive mammals alive today.

Tapirs are also excellent swimmers—they even use their flexible snouts as snorkels! They often cool off in the water while munching on aquatic plants. Their prehensile nose helps them pluck leaves and pick fruit from trees—like a mini trunk with a lot of skill!

But their talents don’t stop there—tapirs play a crucial role in seed dispersal. After munching on fruit, they wander through the rainforest and help spread seeds through their faeces (poo!), supporting forest regeneration and biodiversity.

Tapir calves are born with amazing camouflage: their brown coats are patterned with white spots and stripes, helping them blend into the dappled light of the forest floor to avoid predators. These markings usually fade after a few months. Tara still has a few spots on the bottom of her legs, while Toby’s coat has darkened completely.

Want to see them for yourself? You can find Toby and Tara in their enclosure opposite the Eagles and Vultures, next to The Canopy.