HOUSTON, Texas – The Houston Zoo recently celebrated the birth of a female Baird’s tapir calf, marking a significant addition to its animal collection and ongoing conservation efforts.
Born on July 23 to parents Moli and Noah, the calf weighed 18 pounds at birth and has since grown to 30 pounds, gaining roughly two pounds per day.
Now visible to the public, the calf shares her habitat with other South American species, including giant anteaters, capybaras, and rheas.
Zoo officials report that she is frequently seen playing in the water and interacting with her mother—often climbing on her in playful behavior.
The calf displays the species’ characteristic spots and stripes, which provide camouflage in the wild but will gradually fade as she matures.
Baird’s tapirs, the largest land mammals in South America, can grow to weigh between 500 and 800 pounds as adults. They are closely related to horses and rhinoceroses and are distinguished by a flexible snout used for foraging.
Listed as endangered, Baird’s tapirs face threats from habitat destruction and hunting. Through ticket sales, the Houston Zoo contributes to tapir conservation efforts in Brazil, focusing on habitat protection and reducing human impact on the species.
The Houston Zoo continues to support global conservation initiatives while providing the public with opportunities to engage with endangered wildlife. The arrival of the Baird’s tapir calf reinforces the zoo’s commitment to protecting species and inspiring future conservation actions.
