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Wildlife Reserves Singapore Group

Quick facts

Lifespan

Lifespan

25-30 years in the wild,

up to 36 years under human care.

Diet

Diet

Leaves, buds, growing twigs,

bark, herbs, low growing succulents, shrubs, fruits, club moss, grasses, tubers, and aquatic plants

Habitat

Habitat

Rainforests and lower montane forests.

Also secondary, forests.

Range

Range

From southern Thailand and southern Myanmar

through the Malayan Peninsula, as well as Sumatra, Indonesia.

The Malayan tapir

Tapir spotting

Tapir spotting

The Malayan tapir has a dramatic coat pattern, often referred to as the "saddle" pattern because of its position and shape. The front half of their body and hind legs are black, while the sides are white. This breaks up its outline and creates an illusive vision of a boulder.

Which is why you might find it a challenge to spot our tapirs in their exhibit at the Zoo. Especially if they’re keeping still. Even if they’re right smack in front of you. Be patient and look again!
Calf survival

Calf survival

Newborn calves are even more elusive than adults. Their coat is streaked with white spots and stripes, keeping them well-camouflaged on the sun-dappled forest floor. It’s their only chance against predators like tigers or leopards, till they’re strong enough to keep up with Mum on her foraging trips. Calves start on solids at two weeks and can swim when three weeks old. By this time, they’re following their mothers everywhere - resting, investigating and swimming together.
Agile tapirs

Agile tapirs

Tapirs are fast and agile swimmers. You might see our tapirs taking a dip in the pond in their exhibit, to cool off or wash away skin parasites.

Tapirs are known to walk along riverbeds, holding their breath for up to 90 seconds. Alternatively, they use their trunk as a snorkel!

The trunk also works like a hand to bring food to the mouth and to probe unfamiliar objects. The exhibit is planted with all manner of shrubs, shoots and leaves for our tapirs to munch on.

Together, we protect wildlife

Many rainforest animals are threatened by deforestation, habitat degradation, and the illegal wildlife trade.

Visit our conservation pages for more information on projects that WRS supports, and to find out how you can get involved too.

The IUCN Status

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

Many rainforest animals are threatened by deforestation, habitat degradation, and the illegal wildlife trade. Visit our conservation pages for more information on projects that WRS supports, and to find out how you can get involved too.

The IUCN Status

LC Least Concern
NT
VU
EN Endangered
CR
EW
EX Extinct
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

DD

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

LC

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

NT

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

EW

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

EX

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity