- After a 13-month gestation period tapir babies are born weighing +/-12 kg (26 lbs).
- Their camouflage coat of white spots on a brown background blends in well with the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy.
- Births have been recorded in every month except October and May so there is no apparent mating or birthing season.
- Female tapirs come into heat within a week after giving birth and so may become pregnant with a very young offspring by their side.
- On average, the interval between births for the tapirs
in this study has been 21 months.
- Young tapirs are most susceptible to predation during their first few months of life. Of the 15 offspring born during the study only 1 death has been attributed to predation. A second young was severely injured but survived (stomach lining exposed, right).
- Tapir offspring begin traveling and foraging with their mother when they are 3 or 4 months old. Before this, they are left hidden in a thicket while their mother feeds.
- Between 3 and 4 months of age, the offspring's spots and stripes begin to fade. By 6 months the young tapirs resembles an adult in every aspect but size.
- Juvenile tapirs stay with their mother for at least a year, learning all they need to survive on their own.
- By 15 months, the juveniles are completely independent but remain in their mother's home range for another year.
- Between 2 ½ and 3 ½ years of age, juvenile tapirs leave their natal home range to establish their own territory.
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