Fun Mountain Tapir Facts For Kids

Nature has many unique animals for us to appreciate, but perhaps, the most wonderful of them are those that look like no other animal out there!

One such interesting animal is the mountain tapir, the friendly, neighborhood animal that enjoys sleeping and eating, and will bother no one.

One of the most famous places to see these animals is the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve (Belize), but if you are not ready to quite take the trip, no worries!

You can scroll through this article to know all about these gentle animals who have been listed as Endangered in the IUCN List with other animals like the Rhinos and are also hunted for their meat, and in dire need of conservation.

They are found in several locations in South and Central America.

You can know everything you need to know about these animals if you scroll ahead. If you feel like discovering new animals and learning more about them, then you'll love our takin facts and the gopher facts!

‍

Mountain Tapir Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a mountain tapir?

Mountain tapir is a type of tapir.

What class of animal does a mountain tapir belong to?

Mountain tapirs belong to the class Mammalia.

How many mountain tapirs are there in the world?

There are just about 2,500 mature individuals in the mountain tapir population that are surviving in the wild. Its closely related Sumatran rhinoceros is also Endangered with a population range of fewer than 80 individuals.

Where does a mountain tapir live?

Mountain tapirs live in the woods.

What is a mountain tapir's habitat?

The mountain tapir habitat range is in the northern tropical (high) Andes, Páramo, and cloud forests in central and eastern Cordilleras peaks in Colombia, Ecuador, as well as the far north of Peru.

The mountain tapir's habitat is usually between 6,562-14,108 ft (2,000-4,300 m) above sea level, when temperatures regularly drop below freezing, hence the animal's woolly coating is important.

Who do mountain tapirs live with?

Mountain tapirs are mostly solitary, though little tapir families have also been spotted in the wild on occasion.

How long does a mountain tapir live?

The expected life range of a woolly tapir species is about 25-30 years, both in zoos or the wild regions.

How do they reproduce?

These species only reproduce once every other year on average. During mating, the male pursues the female, using grunts, soft bites, and squeals to attract her attention, whereas the female replies by squealing frequently. After mating, the mother delivers birth to a single calf, on completion of a gestation period of 392-393 days; multiple births are extremely rare.

Mountain tapir's young species have a brown coat and yellowish-white stripes and spots. Mountain tapir babies – like adults – have thick, woolly hair to warm them up. After a year, the juvenile coloring fades, however, the mother continues to care for the calf for the next 18 months.

What is their conservation status?

The IUCN Red List declared the conservation status of mountain tapir as Endangered. The IUCN also listed the Malayan tapir on the Endangered List.

Mountain Tapir Fun Facts

What do mountain tapirs look like?

On the bottom, across the abdomen area, and on the cheeks, the fur gets notably paler. A noticeable white band goes all-around lips, with varying degrees of width, and white bands commonly run down the upper area of the ears.

The eyes are blue at first but fade to a light brown as the creature grows older. They have short, stubby tails and a flexible long trunk-like nose, and their fur is woolly and long, particularly on their underbelly and flanks.

How cute are they?

Baby tapirs are probably the cutest offspring in the kingdom of animals.  With yellow or white spots and stripes, they look like a watermelon.

How do they communicate?

Mountain tapirs species communicate with the other members of the same species by blowing high-pitched whistles. One of their most essential modes of communication is scent. Male tapir species may urinate to signal territorial boundaries by leaving scent imprints.

How big is a mountain tapir?

The length range of mountain tapir species is about 71 in (180 cm). While Brazilian tapir's length range measures up to 78.7 in (200 cm). The mountain species of the tapir is the smallest of the four species of tapir but they are also the largest land mammal of South America also.

How fast can a mountain tapir run?

Mountain tapirs are excellent swimmers who are quick and agile. Tapir hides are extremely robust, and the bodies are streamlined enabling efficient forest navigation. They can run quite swiftly through the forest in short bursts.

How much does a mountain tapir weigh?

Mountain tapirs' weight range is usually between 300-551 lb (136-250 kg), with females' weight is being slightly heavier than males. These woolly tapir species are the biggest land animal located in the tropical Andes of South America.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is not any particular name for female and male mountain tapir species.

What would you call a baby mountain tapir?

A mountain tapir baby has no specific name.

What do they eat?

Tapirs are herbivores who consume a variety of vegetation such as leaves, bromeliads, and grasses. Ferns, lupins, and umbrella plants are some of the most prevalent wild edibles.

Mountain tapir's diet primarily consists of berries, fruit, and foliage, which includes both aquatic and terrestrial plants. Also, they search out natural salt licks to meet the mineral requirements in their diet. An adult tapir can eat as much as 75 lb (34 kg) of food in a single day.

Are they dangerous?

Mountain tapirs are commonly regarded to be calm and docile creatures, yet their behavior is unexpected, and they've been known to strike without any prior warning. Tapir assaults can cause serious injuries.

Would they make a good pet?

Captive tapirs will spend much of their time being pleasant, tranquil, and eager to interact with humans. However, they're known for their erratic, biting behavior when it comes to their young. So keeping them as a pet is not a good idea.

Did you know...

Tapirs are known as 'living fossils' because they are among the earliest mammals on the planet, transforming little in the last 20 million years or more. As a result, they are closely related to perissodactyls like horses, zebras, and rhinos (like the white rhinoceros). They get a prehensile nose, which is designed to wrap around objects and grip them.

Unlike adults, mountain tapir juvenile and babies have striped and spotted coat that matches the scattered sunlight of the understory inside the forests in which most tapirs dwell and feed, allowing the young to blend in with their surroundings. Tapirs, also known as 'forest gardeners', perform a crucial role in seed dispersers.

They take seeds with them through their digestive systems and then seed dispersers as they defecate whenever they eat berries and fruits (with seeds) in one location and migrate to another.

Tapirs species have a savage side.  They are unpredictable, and they will fight ferociously to protect themselves and their offspring, occasionally maiming or killing humans in the process.

Are mountain tapirs endangered?

This species is endemic to the tropical Andes peaks of north-western South America, located across Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. These species have many threats, like fragmentation and habitat destruction in the Andes.

Other threats are the increase in human population and the agricultural activities in the Andes forests. These are hunted for their hides and meat. However, local laws and heightened awareness of their Endangered status have significantly helped overcome these threats.

This species is no longer found in western Venezuela or northern Colombia, but it can still be found in Ecuador and southern Colombia. To protect its population, it is necessary to preserve a large range of the entire habitat.

To combat poaching and forest destruction, locals must be involved in conservation efforts. It is preserved in the National Sanctuary Tabaconas Namballe, Peru to increase its population number.

How does the mountain tapir defend itself?

These tapir species have a few natural enemies. However, due to their size and the thick skin of their necks, it is quite a challenging task for predators to hold the animal.

When confronted by a predator, a tapir can protect itself with its powerful jaws and keen fangs. If they get into a fight, they'll try to bite each other's hind legs. As mountain tapirs possess sharp incisors, these fights frequently result in serious injuries.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our kudu facts and auroch facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable tapir coloring pages.