Tapir news: February/March 2015

Welcome to the latest WTD update.  It's a little late to be the February one, but as the month is so short, it has slipped into March.  In the interest of not delaying it any further, here it is - short and to the point!

Tapir reports and news highlights: February 2015
Malaysian online magazine Poskod.my reported on the #tapitapir campaign to raise awareness about the Malayan tapir. During the Malaysian leg of the "1600 Pandas" world tour, a group of Malaysians decided to crash the Panda World Tour with a model of a single tapir, accompanied by a sign: #TapiTapir.

The Tapir Specialist Group (TSG) has updated its Tapir Veterinary Manual. It is an updated version of the first Tapir Veterinary Manual published by the IUCN/SSC TSG in 2007. Several veterinarians, biologists, nutritionists, reproduction physiologists and researchers reviewed and made contributions to this document based on their in-situ and/or ex-situ experience with the four tapir species. The 13 Chapters and several appendices in this manual offer valuable information on many important topics for veterinarians working with tapirs, including: handling tapirs in the wild and in captivity, anesthesia protocols, treatment protocols and guidelines for medical and nutritional care.  The Manual is available from the TSG website.

The Tapir Preservation Fund has launched its new website as part of its efforts to raise tapir conservation efforts.  The TPF is a nonprofit organisation that works for the conservation of the four tapir species that inhabit the tropics of Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia. It raises funds to deliver to field projects focused on the conservation of threatened tapir populations. Sheryl Todd has been involved with tapir conservation and education since she first rescued a Brazilian tapir - Stanley K - over four decades ago.. 

A Malayan tapir had to be rescued from a ditch in Kuantan in Malaysia, having fallen into a ditch.

Tapir births
Tapir births have been reported at:

• Malayan tapir, Antwerp Zoo, Belgium
• Malayan tapir, Lowry Park Zoo, United States
• Brazilian tapir, Zoo Brno, Czech Republic
• Brazilian tapir, Jaderpark, Germany

-- Anthony

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