RZSS Edinburgh Zoo welcomed an endangered female Malaysian tapir calf last week.
The new arrival, born Monday 18 September to mother Sayang and father Mowgli, has been named Maya and is still finding her tiny feet.
Native to the rainforests of Burma, Malaysia, Sumatra and Thailand, the Malaysian tapir is currently listed as an endangered species with population numbers in decline due to habitat loss and hunting.
Karen Stiven, Senior Hoofstock Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Currently Maya is staying very close to mum and she is doing well. She has the signature brown fur and white markings that all baby tapirs are born with, which helps to provide camouflage in the forest. She will begin to get her adult coloration at around three months old. Sayang is a great mum with lots of practice under her belt now and she really knows the ropes. Tapirs are pregnant for around 13 months so it is great to finally see another healthy calf being born.
“Maya will go on to play an important role in the conservation of her species as part of the wider European Endangered Species Breeding Programme. The programme has a high demand for female tapirs to help create a diverse safety-net population to ensure that the species does not go extinct in the wild.”
For more information on visiting Edinburgh Zoo go to www.edinburghzoo.org.uk
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