Happy 24th Birthday, Toby the Tapir!

We’ve had a big celebration here at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm! Our much-loved Brazilian tapir, Toby, has just turned 24!

To mark the occasion, his keepers made him a special birthday treat. Not just any treat though – this was a giant ice lolly carefully tiered with all his favourite snacks, including sweet potato and beetroot. Toby wasted no time tucking in and seemed very pleased with his chilly treat.

Toby lives with Tara, our other Brazilian tapir. The two of them are wonderful ambassadors for their species, helping us raise awareness about the challenges wild tapirs face. Brazilian tapirs are currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, so looking after these animals and sharing their story is more important than ever.

Tapirs are fascinating animals, often called “living fossils” because they’ve remained largely unchanged for around 20 million years. Their unique, flexible snouts act like mini trunks and are incredibly useful for grabbing leaves and fruit from trees. They’re also excellent swimmers and even use their snouts as snorkels when they take a dip. You’ll often see them lounging in the water or munching on aquatic plants to cool off.

One of the most important things tapirs do in the wild is help forests grow. After eating fruit, they spread seeds through their droppings as they wander through the rainforest. This helps regenerate plant life and supports the entire ecosystem.

Tapir calves are born with brown coats covered in white spots and stripes, giving them brilliant camouflage in the forest undergrowth. These markings usually fade as they grow older. Toby’s coat has darkened completely now, but if you look closely, Tara still has a few spots left on her legs.

If you’d like to meet Toby and Tara, come and find them in their enclosure opposite the Eagles and Vultures, just next to The Canopy. Come and say hello, and help us celebrate this incredible species – and of course, Toby’s milestone birthday!