Malayan Tapir

The Malayan Tapir is the largest of the four tapir species and one of the most striking animals in the Zoo Miami collection in Richmond West. Its bold black-and-white coloration — dark at the head and hindquarters, pale across the middle — serves as camouflage in the dappled light of Southeast Asian forests, but in the daylight of a zoo exhibit it simply looks remarkable. An endangered species, the Malayan tapir is a living link to prehistoric megafauna. Its visit-worthy combination of unusual appearance, gentle temperament, and conservation importance makes it a meaningful stop on any Zoo Miami tour.