The Asian Tapir

A mixture of animals, that's what a Tapir looks like. It has a round body (pig) and a long snout (anteater or elephant). It is closely related to the horse and the rhinoceros because each toe of the Tapir has its own separate hoof. The Asian Tapir, also known as the Malayan Tapir, is the largest Tapir among the four species of Tapirs in the world. In Thailand, P'som-sett is the name for the Tapir and means "the mixture is finished."

The Asian Tapir has unique coloring: the "saddle" from the shoulders to the top of the legs are white, and the rest is black except for the tips of the ears which is white. This pattern is for the Tapir's camouflage; animals that would hunt the Tapir think that it is a rock lying on the ground.

The Asian Tapir is a vegetarian, eating only different kinds of plants. Using its long nose like a hand/finger, the Tapir can get leaves from tree branches or pull grass from the ground The Asian Tapir has poor eyesight, so it relies mostly on its sense of smell and hearing to look for food. Small and compact, the Asian Tapir is at home in the water and dives in to cool off.

Baby Tapirs are born brown with beige stripes, no matter what species they are. At six months, the baby Tapir looks like a miniature adult. They reach their full size in 18 months and are considered adults at 2 to 4 years.

All four species of the Tapir are on the ENDANGERED SPECIES list. Some reasons why they are endangered:

1. Hunting - People hunt Tapirs for their meat and skin. A young Tapir captured can be sold for as much as $5,500.

2. Habitat destruction -People continue to be the real threat to the Tapirs' existence. Deforestatation for farming and other agricultural purposes and flooding caused by the damming of rivers for projects all put the Tapir's environment in danger.

Asian Tapir Fast Facts
Scientific Name: Ailuropoda Melanoleuca
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Height: 2.5 to 3.5 feet
Weight: 500 to 800 pounds
Range: rainforests of Southeast Asia
Diet: leaves, grass

To make an origami of the Asian Tapir, click on the image or here.