Hertfordshire Zoo is celebrating the birth of a rare male lowland tapir calf, born on July 8. The newborn arrived after a 430-day gestation period for its mother, Fifi.
The birth is considered a significant conservation milestone for lowland tapirs, a species classified as vulnerable in the wild. The calf was able to stand and walk within 10 minutes of its birth and successfully took its first meal from its mother shortly after.
Baby lowland tapirs are born with distinctive brown coats marked by white stripes and spots. These patterns provide camouflage in their natural forest floor habitat. The striking markings have led to comparisons of the young tapirs to miniature watermelons, a pattern that gradually fades as they mature.