Endangered Species Guide : Mammals : Animal Planet

Endangered Mammals

Pictures: AP Photo |

BAIRD'S TAPIR (Tapirus bairdii)

Tapirs are piglike animals with long legs, an extended trunk and relatively streamlined bodies. Baird's tapir — the largest of the tapirs — has short, dark bristly hair with a light-colored chin and throat. It can be found in the forests of Central and South America, feeding on plant parts near freshwater sources. Baird's tapir are endangered throughout their range due to hunting and habitat destruction.

NEXT MAMMAL: Bearded Saki »

IUCN Status: Endangered
USFWS Status: Endangered
Major Threats: Hunting and habitat destruction
Habitat: Dense tropical rain forest
Location: Central and South America
Diet: Leaves and fallen fruit

Developed in partnership with

(R) WWF Registered Trademark.
Panda Symbol (C) 1986 WWF

Pictures: AP Photo |

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS

HowStuffWorks | TreeHugger | Petfinder | PetVideo | Discovery Education

Visit the Discovery Store: Toys & Games | Telescopes | DVD Sets | Planet Earth DVD | Gift Ideas

By visiting this site, you agree to the terms and conditions
of our Visitor Agreement. Please read. Privacy Policy.
ATTENTION! We recently updated our privacy policy. The changes are effective as of September 10, 2008.
To see the new policy, click here. Questions? See the policy for the contact information.

Copyright © 2012 Discovery Communications, LLC.

The leading global real-world media and entertainment company.