Tapir (Tapiridae) Care Manual
Diet composition, food intake, body condition, and fecal consistency in captive tapirs (Tapirus spp.) in UK collections
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20225.abs Intake measurements were carried out in 22 tapirs from seven UK zoological collections. Dry matter intake (DMI) ranged from 48 to 86 g/kg0.75/d. Across collections, the highest proportion of the ingested diet consisted of pelleted feeds (including grains and bread) at 46±17% DMI, followed by commercial produce at 26±12% DMI, roughage (excluding browse) at […]
Urinary steroid evaluations to monitor ovarian function in exotic ungulates: X. Pregnancy diagnosis in Perissodactyla
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430130205.abs Enzymeimmunoassays (EIAs) for estrone conjugates (EC), pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PDG), and C-19 and C-21 progesterone metabolites (C-19/C-21) were used to analyze urine samples from four nondomestic equid species, four tapir species, and two rhinoceros species in an attempt to identify if these assays could be used for diagnosing and monitoring pregnancy. The same urine samples […]
A Case Study of Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) Husbandry Practice Across 10 Zoological Collections
The Malayan, or Asian, tapir (Tapirus indicus) has a diminishing wild population and is becoming more common in captivity as zoos attempt to manage sustainable ex situ populations. Tapirs can be relatively easy to maintain and breed, but captive animals appear to suffer from reduced activity budgets, obesity, and poor public image. A questionnaire-based survey […]
Can Enrichment Make Brazilian Tapir Spend More Time on View to the Public?
One common visitor complaint in zoos is that the nonhuman animals are not visible. This problem needs to be resolved without compromising the animals’ welfare; environmental enrichment could solve the problem. This study investigated whether enrichment would increase public exposure time of lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) in the Belo Horizonte Zoo in Minas Gerais, Brazil. […]