Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo welcomes first-ever Malayan tapir calf

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has welcomed a new baby Malayan tapir for the first time ever.

The organization says the female calf was born on Aug. 28 to five-year-old Sempurna.

“This is a huge moment for our zoo — the very first Malayan tapir calf ever born here,” said Barb Campbell, animal care supervisor at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. “After a few initial nursing hiccups, Sempurna is showing all the right instincts as a first-time mom. The calf is strong, active, and feeding well. She already weighs 10.5 kg!

Covered in stripes and spots, Campbell says the calf looks like a little watermelon on legs. She will eventually take on the black and white colouring of her parents.

Sempurna was pregnant for 13.5 months before giving birth to the calf. It is the first offspring for her and 24-year-old sire Tanuck, who were paired in a breeding recommendation under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP), the zoo says.

While she was pregnant, Sempurna was monitored by a care team. This included ultrasounds and blood draws to ensure her and the calf’s health.

Staff have also been around to help the new mom learn how to nurse.

Visitors to the zoo won’t be able to get a peak of the calf and her mom just yet. Officials say the pair will remain behind the scenes in PETRONAS Gateway to Asia for the next several weeks to allow for quiet bonding time before the calf makes its public debut.

Although the calf is still young, Campbell says staff have been impressed by her confidence and curiosity.

“Every birth is special, but this one has been long-awaited and carries real significance for the species,” she said. “Our whole team is buzzing with excitement, and we can’t wait for our community to meet this incredible new addition!”

Malayan tapirs are the largest of the world’s tapir species and the only ones native to Asia, the zoo explains.

Found in the rainforests of Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra, their populations are rapidly declining due to habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.

With fewer than 2,500 individuals remaining in the wild, the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo says it is proud to be part of the Malayan tapir SSP, collaborating with other accredited zoos to safeguard the future of the rare and at-risk species in human care.