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| James Section Leader Of Paddocks with Tamra the tapir |
Did you know every year on Sunday the 27th of April it's World tapir day? Well, I spoke to James, Section Leader of Paddocks at Paradise Wildlife Park, to find out more about tapirs and World tapir day.
What is World Tapir Day?
"World tapir day is to raise awareness for tapirs all the way around the world. Unfortunately tapirs aren't your textbook animal, so not an animal that everyone thinks is cute and cuddly, so not many people really know what tapirs are. We try and raise awareness for the tapirs so we can raise funds as numbers are decreasing in the wild. And also just to make more people aware of tapirs being around."
What is a tapir?
"A tapir is a large hoofed mammal (herbivore) they have a long snouts and they have a body shape like a pig and have a little bit of a mohikan and their closest relatives are horses and rhinos."
Where do they come from?
"The tapirs we have here at Paradise Wildlife Park are Brazilian, so they come from Brazil. They live in the Amazon rainforest, but there are actually five different species of tapir in the world. Four are from South and Central America and one from Asia."
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| Tamra pictured here on the left when she was just a couple of weeks old. |
What do they eat?
"They are strict herbivores so there is all different plant matter, their favourite food is leaves and bark of the trees. But they also like to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables as well, including carrots and cabbage, but our tapirs like the sweet things!"
What are Tapirs' largest threats?
"They are decreasing in the wild due to habitat destruction. All five species of tapir live in the rainforest and with the rainforests being chopped down at such a huge rate all the way around the world, it is one of the main reasons for destroying their homes. But they are also being hunted for their meat and for their skin as well, as its a real thick and leathery."
Tell me more about the tapirs we have here at Paradise Wildlife Park?
"We have Brazilian tapirs also known as Lowland tapirs and we have four here. We have our breeding pair Temoko and Gabrielle and they will be 14 this year. We also have two of their offspring, we've got Teddy who's 6 this year, he's our young male and second successful offspring that we have had here and then we have got Tamara, who's our youngest fourth successful tapir that we had and she will be two years old on the 14th May. We can tell apart the tapirs from their size and markings and each one of our tapirs likes to be tickled in a different spot!"
How do you raise awareness at Paradise Wildlife Park for World Tapir Day?
"Here at Paradise Wildlife Park we have done World tapir day for two years running now. On Sunday the 27th of April we will have a stall just outside the tapir enclosure, selling all tapir themed gifts and there will be games, such as pin the nose on the tapir and tapir arts and crafts. Its a chance for people to actually come and meet and feed the tapirs and also discounted sponsorship for adoptions will be and a discount on our tickle a tapir experience will be available and all the money goes to charity."
Our tapirs here at Paradise are really friendly and fun to be around (once you get them out of their pool, as they do like a good swim!). As the leading Zoo in Europe for animal experiences, we offer the chance for the public to come and meet our tapir family and there is nothing our tapirs like more than a good scratch and tickle! Find out more about our Tickle a Tapir experience online here, or better yet come and visit us on Sunday the 27th of April where discounted rates will be available.
Paradise Wildlife Park
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