JAKARTA, Jul 14 (NNN-ANTARA) – A tapir has been born at the Taman Rimbo Jambi Zoo, on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, adding to the number of this rare and endangered species, an official source said yesterday.
Head of the Zoo, Erliyani, said, the male tapir, named Erli Adha, son of Kasih, was born on Jul 10, at 11.30 a.m. local time, on the day when Indonesian Muslims celebrated Eid al-Adha.
“Erli Adha was born safely. He is healthy and cute. His weight is about six kg,” Erliyani said.
His mother, Kasih, regularly receives additional vitamins and fruits, including papaya and bananas, during her breastfeeding period, to support Adha’s growth, added Erliyani.
Adha’s birth increased the number of tapirs in the zoo to four, including three adult females.
The zoo, which collects 290 species of animals, is also caring for another tapir named Pebi, who is pregnant and waiting for birth.
Tapir is a most primitive mammal, and since 2008 the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified it as an endangered animal.
The population increase of tapir is slow as the mating cycle is once every two years, with a gestation period of 400 days, and only one young cub per birth.– NNN-ANTARA
