Today, 27th of April, is #WorldTapirDay! To celebrate, let’s learn a little about this mammal
Today, 27th of April, is #WorldTapirDay! To celebrate, let’s learn a little about this mammal with a short trunk #NatureistheGreatestShow There are four tapir species in the world: three in Central and South America and one in South-East Asia. They all belong to the Tapirus genus, one of the oldest genera still alive in the animal kingdom. The first tapirs lived about 10 000 years ago! There are numerous extinct tapir species. We can find fossils of these all over the world. This means tapirs have lived in Europe! Tapirs seem like peaceful animals, and that’s exactly what they are. They are large herbivores who enjoy spending their days eating and bathing. With their short trunk, they can grab leaves and twigs that would otherwise be out of reach. But don’t underestimate them: tapirs are surprisingly good sprinters! And this can be quite useful: their worst enemies are large cats, such as the Puma. Their thick skin is their second defense mechanism. Unfortunately, all four tapir species are endangered. Saving tapirs also helps to protect the rainforest. Follow World Tapir Day and discover the initiatives in favor of saving Tapirs all over the world! ————————1. Baby tapir © seth m, Flickr2. South American tapir © Tambako The Jaguar, Flickr3. Mountain tapir © Jean, Flickr4. South American tapir5. Baird’s tapir © Bernard DUPONT, Wikimedia Commons6. Malayan tapir © Ilham.nurwansah, Wikimedia Commons -- source link
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