What they eat: Tapirs are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants. Their diet consists mainly of:
* Fruits: They love fruits like mangoes, figs, and berries.
* Leaves: They browse on leaves from trees and shrubs.
* Grasses: They graze on grasses in open areas.
* Water plants: They will forage for aquatic plants in water.
Where they live: Tapirs are found in tropical rainforests and swamps in Central and South America, as well as Southeast Asia.
How they move: Tapirs are known for their unique way of moving. They have a long, flexible snout that they use to pull leaves and fruits towards their mouths. They also have strong, short legs that allow them to walk, trot, and swim.
Social life: Tapirs are generally solitary animals, meaning they prefer to be alone except when mating.
Importance to the environment: Tapirs play an important role in their ecosystem. They help to disperse seeds by eating fruits and defecating them elsewhere. This helps to maintain the diversity of plants in their environment.
Threats: Tapirs are facing threats from habitat loss, hunting, and poaching.
Fun fact: Did you know that tapirs are sometimes called "the living fossils" because they have changed very little over millions of years?