ZooTampa welcomes first baby of 2024
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — ZooTampa has announced the birth of their first spring baby born in 2024.
In the overnight hours between Monday and Tuesday, an endangered Malayan tapir calf was born following a nearly 13-month gestation period.
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The unnamed calf was born to its 18-year-old mom, Ubi, and is spending the week bonding and nursing. Both mom and baby are thriving and healthy, the zoo said.
The calf has a distinctive coat of both spots and strips, but its unique pattern will slowly change during its first six months of life, and eventually mirror the stripes of its parents, Ubi and 13-year-old Albert.
Courtesy: ZooTampa Courtesy: ZooTampa Courtesy: ZooTampa Courtesy: ZooTampa Courtesy: ZooTampa Courtesy: ZooTampa Courtesy: ZooTampa
“The birth of this healthy calf is another wonderful example of the Zoo’s commitment to the conservation of endangered species,” Chris Massaro, the Senior VP of Zoological Operations said. “Malayan tapirs are endangered, and any addition is a significant conservation achievement. Our goal is that when guests see these amazing animals that they will connect with them in ways that inspire action to save the world’s endangered wildlife.”
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ZooTampa participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, as they paired Ubi and Albert up to ensure the survival of endangered species. Tapirs are also closely related to horses and rhinoceros’.
The zoo said only 2,500 Malayan tapirs remain in Thailand and on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The deteriorating population is due to deforestation causing habitat loss, flooding from dams built for hydroelectric projects, and illegal trade.
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