CHESTER ZOO WELCOMES RARE BABY TAPIR

BY CATHY NICOLE CARR

The team at Chester Zoo have welcomed a rare baby Tapir to their family.

The baby, who has been named Nessa, was born to parents Margery and Betong in the early hours of the morning of 30th November, and weighed 9 kg.

The International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Malayan tapir as an endangered species. Deforestation, illegal logging and hunting have meant that numbers have declined by more than half over the last 40 years.

Mike Jordan, Director of Animals and Plants at the zoo said:

"We're over the moon that Margery has delivered a healthy female calf - a birth that marks an important moment in our efforts to prevent the extinction of this wonderfully charismatic but sadly endanged species."

The tapir is related to both the horse and the rhino, it is also an 'odd-toed' animal - with four toes on its front feet and only three on its back!

Chester Zoo welcomes baby tapir