Birth of wild tapir offers hope for Brazil's endangered ecosystem [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Jonathan Watts Global environment editor

@jonathanwatts
Wed 18 Mar 2020 02.00 EDT

Hopes for a recovery of Brazil’s most endangered ecosystem have been given a boost by the first birth of a wild tapir in Rio de Janeiro’s Atlantic Forest for more than a century.

Scientists said video clips of the baby tapir proved the initial success of a re-introduction strategy for the threatened mammal, which is often described as “a forest gardener” because it plays a vital role in the dispersal of seeds.

The images of the pig-like calf with a characteristic prehensile snout were captured by a camera trap in the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve and released in Brazilian media outlets.

Researchers believed the calf was born in January and a second may be on its way because another adult female appears to be pregnant.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/birth-of-wild-tapir-offers-hope-for-brazils-endangered-ecosystem

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