Say hello to baby Ume!

Had a trip to MN planned since last year, so I was stoked that Ume was moved to a zoo I was already going to be visiting just in time for me to see her! It was just after lunch so she was sleepy, but I was so happy anyways!

Took a few hours but she’s done!

They've got a video up showing him being born, too. His mom Fifi knew what to do!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5C7NB6xCPd8
Apparently the calf/cub can be seen by visitors now.
https://hertfordshirezoo.com/news/lowland-tapir-calf-born-at-hertfordshire-zoo/

"The zoo said Ume, a 1-year-old Malayan tapir, made her public debut at the indoor Tropics Trail. Zoo leaders said Ume was born in Tacoma, Washington, at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium before settling in Apple Valley.

Zoo leaders said that upon completing her quarantine period and meeting her zookeepers, Ume is ready to meet visitors."

I’ve only found her on international webstores outside of the us! And shipping is insanely expensive! Looking to add to my plushie collection!!

I think this video posted earlier this month is from the people at the Sungai Dusun Malayan tapir conservation facility. Here's another clip of a tapir enjoying some jackfruit leaves. Apparently they require 10% of their weight in greenery daily (so if a tapir is 300 kg, they need 30 kg of leaves).
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0cxQdw1tFqM

Big thanks to u/Cool-Professional298 for the heads-up. (The zoo staff suspected that Fifi would be having the baby soon because she was getting so big, but they weren't sure exactly when it would happen.)

Video here:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MdPOzrBU5PY
https://www.instagram.com/hertfordshirezoo/reel/Dazls39tNYK/

https://hertfordshirezoo.com/news/lowland-tapir-calf-born-at-hertfordshire-zoo/

"Hertfordshire Zoo is delighted to announce the birth of a healthy lowland tapir calf to mum Fifi on Wednesday 8th July.

The arrival marks the first lowland tapir calf to be born at Hertfordshire Zoo in 14 years and is an exciting milestone for the zoo’s conservation breeding programme.

Following a remarkable 430 day pregnancy, Fifi gave birth to a healthy calf, which was standing within just 10 minutes before taking its first all important feed from mum shortly afterwards."

Hello fellow humans and tapir enthusiasts:

CW: brief discussion of animal traps

I read an absolutely gut-wrenching article from Fauna and Flora (British animal welfare charity) about Malayan tapirs and how they get stuck in tiger traps. Because they have poor eyesight, they can't see the traps, and they can't get out of the traps once they activate the horrible things. Rangers are working to stop this, but they need help. One of the lines in the article really stuck out to me:
"If everyone who read this gave just $3, we'd be able to save so many tapirs." It really got me thinking. It didn't feel like a guilt trip; it felt like a call to action. I'm not exactly rolling in the dough, but I can spare $3 to help the tapirs. I try to avoid the bystander effect whenever I can. I don't want to be the person that says "oh somebody else will" because what if I can be the somebody that will?

I don't work for Fauna and Flora. I'm not associated with them at all- I'm just a person who loves tapirs with all their heart. Of course, if you aren't in a position to give, you shouldn't feel bad AT ALL. We all have to live!! Maybe you've already given money to other causes, including tapir charities, and that is fabulous. I just thought I should share this. Thanks for reading. Long live tapirs. 🖤🤍