Tapirs

Tapirs are shy animals that look a little like pigs with long noses. They live in South America, Central America, and parts of Asia. Tapirs have short trunks that help them grab leaves and fruit. They are good swimmers and love being near rivers.

Where Tapirs Live

Tapirs live in wet forests and jungles. They spend a lot of time in water to cool off and stay safe. Tapirs can even walk along the bottom of rivers to hide from danger. They are mostly active at night. During the day, they sleep in quiet spots in the forest.

What They Eat

Tapirs are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. They use their short trunks to pull leaves, fruit, and twigs into their mouths. Tapirs help spread seeds through the forest when they poop. This helps new plants grow. Their favorite foods are soft fruits that fall from trees.

Fun Facts

• Baby tapirs have stripes and spots that look like watermelons.
• There are four kinds of tapirs in the world.
• Tapirs are related to horses and rhinos, not pigs.

Did You Know?

Tapirs are one of the oldest large mammals on Earth. They have been around for about 20 million years and look almost the same as they did long ago.