Baird's Tapir | BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo - The #1 Family Year-Round Attraction in Baton Rouge!

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Central & South America

Baird's Tapir

Tapirs' closest relatives are the horse and rhinoceros. This animal is a great swimmer and will run to water to escape predators. The Baird's tapir is the largest indigenous mammal in Central America and is the national symbol of Belize.

HABITATLowland rainforest, grassland, and swamps
DIETLeaves, twigs, buds, fruits, and aquatic vegetation
LIFE Expectancy25-30 years

Fun Fact

The national animal symbol for Zimbabwe is the sable antelope.