Howletts celebrate stripy new arrival!

Keepers at Howletts Wild Animal Park, Kent, are celebrating the birth of a Brazilian Tapir.

Born on the 27th August, the male infant, named Mendoza, is now 5weeks old and has just made his debut to the press and public. The infant was born to parents Wilma, aged 16, and Tommy, aged 5. The latest arrival is Wilma's second offspring with Tommy, and follows the birth of her son Diego last year. The infant is doing well although his early life was uncertain as keeper Dave Stokes explains:

‘The infant had a shaky start in life due to an unknown stomach upset that caused diarrhoea. After a course of antibiotics he is doing much better - he is off medication and is gaining weight by the day. We saw Wilma and Tommy mating and then were able to monitor her pregnancy with frequent weighing. Nearer the time of birth her udders began to develop and fill with milk. Wilma has been very good although she was understandably a bit edgy at first when we were giving the infant medication. Although she is the steadiest of all out tapirs, a 300kg pregnant lady has a lot of weight behind her and it is always important to treat her with respect!'

The Brazilian Tapir is found in rainforests and swamps in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Paraguay. Tapirs are forest-dwellers who use their mobile snouts to browse on leaves, buds, shoots and twigs. Tapirs are water-loving animals and using their long snouts as a snorkel they can stay submerged for several minutes at a time. There are four species of Tapir: the Brazilian, the black and white Malayan tapir that can be seen at Port Lympne, the Mountain or ‘wooly' Tapir and the Baird's tapir. All south American tapirs are classified as endangered or vulnerable. All are in decline due to hunting, deforestation and the spread of agriculture.

In the wild, the infant's spotted and striped coat would provide the perfect camouflage in the dappled light of the forest undergrowth. He will keep his unusual "humbug" markings until he is about 6 months old and then will develop his adult dark brown colour and the low erect mane running along the back of his neck. Mother and son are currently separated from the father so that they can properly bond, however they will be reintroduced to "Tommy", the father in the not too distant future. The infant's birth brings the number of Brazilian tapirs at the park up to 6.

The Brazilian Tapir is one of many species protected by The Aspinall Foundation, the conservation charity which works in conjunction with Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks in Kent. The work of The Aspinall Foundation both at its Kent parks and overseas is funded entirely by visitor revenue and donations to the public, so just by visiting the new infant you will be contributing towards the survival of endangered species. For more information or to adopt a tapir from as little as £3 per month visit

Keepers at Howletts Wild Animal Park, Kent, are celebrating the birth of a Brazilian Tapir.Born on the 27^th August, the male infant, named Mendoza, is now 5weeks old and has just made his debut to the press and public. The infant was born to parents Wilma, aged 16, and Tommy, aged 5. The latest arrival is Wilma's second offspring with Tommy, and follows the birth of her son Diego last year. The infant is doing well although his early life was uncertain as keeper Dave Stokes explains: ‘The infant had a shaky start in life due to an unknown stomach upset that caused diarrhoea. After a course of antibiotics he is doing much better - he is off medication and is gaining weight by the day. We saw Wilma and Tommy mating and then were able to monitor her pregnancy with frequent weighing. Nearer the time of birth her udders began to develop and fill with milk. Wilma has been very good although she was understandably a bit edgy at first when we were giving the infant medication. Although she is the steadiest of all out tapirs, a 300kg pregnant lady has a lot of weight behind her and it is always important to treat her with respect!'  The Brazilian Tapir is found in rainforests and swamps in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Paraguay. Tapirs are forest-dwellers who use their mobile snouts to browse on leaves, buds, shoots and twigs. Tapirs are water-loving animals and using their long snouts as a snorkel they can stay submerged for several minutes at a time. There are four species of Tapir: the Brazilian, the black and white Malayan tapir that can be seen at Port Lympne, the Mountain or ‘wooly' Tapir and the Baird's tapir. All south American  tapirs are classified as endangered or vulnerable. All are in decline due to hunting, deforestation and the spread of agriculture. In the wild, the infant's spotted and striped coat would provide the perfect camouflage in the dappled light of the forest undergrowth. He will keep his unusual "humbug" markings until he is about 6 months old and then will develop his adult dark brown colour and  the low erect mane running along the back of his neck.  Mother and son are currently separated from the father so that they can properly bond, however they will be reintroduced to "Tommy", the father in the not too distant future. The infant's birth brings the number of Brazilian tapirs at the park up to 6.

The Brazilian Tapir is one of many species protected by The Aspinall Foundation, the conservation charity which manages Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks in Kent. The work of The Aspinall Foundation both at its Kent parks and overseas is funded entirely by visitor revenue and donations to the public, so just by visiting the new infant you will be contributing towards the survival of endangered species. For more information or to adopt a tapir from as little as £3 per month visit http://www.aspinallfoundation.org/adopt-an-animal

Posted 31st August 2010