Tapirs

Most tapirs are shy inhabitants of deep forest or swamps, traveling on well-worn trails, usually near water. When disturbed, they usually flee, crashing through undergrowth and often seeking refuge in water. Their main enemy wherever they are found is humans the jaguar is a principal predator. Despite declining numbers caused largely by habitat destruction, tapirs are hunted for food and sport in many parts of their range. The four New World species are black, plain dark brown, or gray, but the Malayan tapir is strongly patterned, with black head, shoulders, and legs and white rump, back, and belly. The young of all tapirs are dark brown, streaked and spotted with yellowish white. A single young is produced after a gestation of about 400 days.