TAMPA, Fla. — Christmas may be coming early for the ZooTampa family!
- Endangered Malayan tapir expecting to give birth soon
- ZooTampa says birth critical for conservation of endangered species
- For more info on ZooTampa, click here
Ubi, an endangered Malayan tapir, is pregnant with her third calf and is expected to give birth in December. Zoo officials say her pregnancy is critical for conservation because a healthy population in human care helps create a safety net for a species facing extinction.
Tapirs are usually solitary by nature, but Zoo officials say the animal care team has developed a strong bond with Ubi, which allows them to treat her with ease as they conduct regular ultrasounds while Ubi receives belly scratches from her keepers.
“It is important that Ubi be as comfortable as possible as we check on both her and her calf’s health,” said Chris Massaro, General Curator at ZooTampa. “The strong bonds that the animal care team has with the animals enable higher quality of care for each animal.”
The Malayan tapir is a close relative of the rhinoceros and horse, but are sometimes mistaken for a relative of a pig or anteater. Zoo officials said they are the most primitive large mammal in the world and are also known as "living fossils," due to them dating back 20 million years ago. Officials said the species continues to decline due to hunting and habitat loss.
Guests at ZooTampa at Lowry Park can view Ubi and her mate, Albert, in their habitat. Officials say once the baby is born, it will be introduced to the tapir habitat.