Danta (Baird’s Tapir)

Baird’s Tapir is the largest land mammal of Costa Rica – these beasts can weight up to 730lbs or 330kg, stand 1.2 meters or 4 feet in height, and stretch over 2 meters, or 6 feet, in length. And they are DANGEROUS – their powerful jaws have been used to gravely injure and even kill humans – with one famous case being that of Costa Rica’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, who was attacked by a Tapir in Corcovado National Park (more about this fascinating story later).

The Tapir is called Danta (from indigenous word for Buckskin) in many areas across its range. In parts of Mexico it is called Anteburro (Former Donkey) probably due to the resemblance between the animals. Panamanians and Colombians call it Macho de Monte (Strongman Of The Mountain), and in Belize, where the Baird’s Tapir is the national animal, it is known as the Mountain Cow.

THE TRADEMARL TRUNK

The Tapir has a very distinctive, prehensile (or capable of grasping) probiscis or ‘trunk’—an elongated upper lip fused with the nose—that is far less dramatic than an Elephant’s but equally vital for their survival. This versatile adaptation is used primarily for foraging. Tapirs employ their trunks to grasp branches and remove the leaves that might obscure the fruits they seek. In essence, the trunk acts as a natural tool to help them pluck and handle tasty treats from the forest, making it an indispensable part of their feeding routine.

Beyond feeding, the trunk also aids in exploring their environment. Its prehensile nature allows the tapir to investigate objects and navigate through dense vegetation where precision in handling food items can be a game changer.

In addition, the trunk can be used as a snorkel – like the Elephant, the Tapir is able to submerge under the water and breathe through its surface-piercing trunk.

ATTACK on MINAE Minister Carlos Manuel Rodríguez 

In what has become perhaps the most famous Tapir story ever, a Costa Rican Minister was attacked by the animal in Corcovado National Park. Minister Rodríguez was on an official trip inside the park, tackling a 14-kilometer hike with a group of Park Rangers on an anti-poaching mission. He was walking ahead of the Rangers when he noticed a young Tapir that appeared injured. He followed the animal off-trail and out of sight of the Rangers, who thought he was still walking along the path and did not note his absence until the end of the hike, many hours later.

After he walked deeper into the jungle, the young Tapir’s mother suddenly appeared, out of nowhere, and viciously attacked the Minister. It is likely that his backpack saved his life as it took the brunt of the bites and tears. To escape, the Minister jumped into a ravine and lost consciousness upon hitting the ground.

In a story worthy of its own article, the Minister then wandered through the dense, dangerous park for THREE DAYS before emerging at the isolated Sirena Beach and being rescued by the search party. He was then airlifted to medical facilities as, luckily, a dirt airstrip is located close-by.

SAFETY AROUND TAPIRS

Needless to say, NEVER approach Tapirs – observe, take a photo, treasure the moment, but that’s it. Tapirs are usually weary of people & attacks are rare. They will not stick around for the perfect photo op. But coming close to them may elicit a defensive charge which can include deadly bites. The animals are especially dangerous if they are accompanied by youngsters – they will fiercely protect their children.

If you find yourself face-to-face with a Tapir, start to back away slowly, without turning your back at the animal but also without making eye contact. Stay quiet and try to find cover such as a large tree. A typical Tapir charge is very short lived, so if you find yourself in this situation, RUN! Because the animals have very poor eyesight it has been suggested to run in a zig-zag pattern if possible.

OTHER NOTABLE ATTACKS ON HUMANS

There are a number of recorded Tapir attacks, and research suggests that many attacks and injuries are not officially reported. Below is a list of a few notable incident – these may involve species other than Baird’s Tapir (click on year to follow link):

• 1998 – A Zookeper in Oklahoma City was viciously attacked, suffering severe bites and the loss of her arm.
• 2013 – A 2-year-old girl was mauled by a Tapir at the Dublin Zoo, during a supervised experience.
• 2016 – A man was killed by a Tapir in Brazil after encountering the animal in his corn field. He received numerous deep bites that led to fatal blood loss.
• An environmental research worker was attacked and injured in Ecuador.

The TAPIR family

There are four species of Tapirs, three of which live in South & Central America and one making home in SE Asian areas of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Burma. The Tapirs’ closest relatives are Horses, Donkeys, Zebras and Rhinos who belong to the same order of Perissodactyla. The Tapirs are considered to be one of the few surviving members of the Megafauna that underwent mass extinction some 12,000 years ago, and are the only remaining non – domestic animals that can pass the Guanaste seeds through their digestive tract.

GARDENERS OF THE FOREST

Tapirs are called the “gardeners of the forest” because of their essential role in promoting and maintaining forest diversity and regeneration. Their foraging habits involve consuming large quantities of fruit, nuts & seeds from a wide variety of tree and plant species. Many of the fruits contain large seeds that are too heavy or cumbersome to be carried by other smaller animals. After ingesting these fruits, Tapirs deposit the seeds in their dung, which serves not only as a dispersal vehicle but also as a nutrient-rich fertilizer that aids in seed germination and plant growth.

Tapirs are some of the only animals that can eat entire Guanacaste pods, which aids in the dispersal of the seed. In Costa Rica only large domestic animals like cows and horses can do the same. Other animals feed on the seed and thus destroy its chances of germination. Previously, megafauna like Giant Sloths dispersed the Guanacaste seed but unfortunately these beasts are no longer with us.

Tapirs traverse the forests in well-worn zig-zag trails that span across their range. This allows them to inspect the maximum amount of area in search for food, and is also thought to confuse predators.

TAPIRS & WATER

Tapirs love the water – in fact they are considered to be semi-aquatic mammals. They can spend large parts of the day neck-deep in water – whether cooling off, relieving themselves, hiding from niggling insects, feeding on aquatic plants, bathing, or socially meeting other Tapirs.  In times of danger they flee towards ponds, lakes & rivers, being able to totally submerge themselves in order to escape the attack.

In their aquatic habits, they are very similar to Hippos – including the ability to swim and walk on the bottom of a body of water, totally submerged, in order to graze on water plants. As stated earlier, their prehensile trunk can be used as a snorkel, not unlike the Elephants. So even though there are no Tapirs in Africa, the looks and behaviors of the Tapir very closely mirror those of large African animals.

ALL ABOUT OUR BAIRD’S TAPIR

Baird’s Tapir ranges from northern Colombia to Central Mexico, and is the only Tapir specie present in Central South America. The animals prefer wet habitats such as mangroves, marshes, swamps, wet tropical rainforests, or land close to rivers, lakes, lagoons, etc. They are also more at home in secondary forests – this is because, within these biomes, the trees are smaller and the leaves, twigs, blossoms, fruit, nuts, berries etc are more accessible to the Tapirs. But the animals can also be found in cloud forests of higher elevations, up to 3,600 meters or nearly 12,000 feet.

Being the largest land mammal around, the Baird’s Tapir has few natural predators. Of course the young are much more vulnerable but the adults fear only fully grown Jaguars and American Crocodiles. And the Tapirs often win (or at least walk away from) these contest – a study in Corcovado found many Tapirs with large claw marks across the hides, evidence that they survived a very dangerous encounter. Youngsters can also be taken by smaller cats such as Pumas and large snakes. Humans may hunt Tapirs for food & their hides, however this is not a widespread practice – but because Tapirs have a low reproduction rate, any loss can have dire consequences for the general population.

The Tapirs’ diet is very diverse – including leaves, twigs, buds, blossoms, fruit, nuts and berries. Once in a while they will ascend on their rear feet to arrive at leaves past their ordinary reach, or knock down slim or dead plants to get fruit or leaves. A fallen tree, especially if large, is a feast for the Tapirs – they will stick around for days.

Baird’s Tapirs form monogamous pairs and long-term bonds. They have a very slow breeding cycles – only birthing young every 2-3 years. The gestation period, at 13 months, is among the longest in the animal kingdom. Both parents take part in raising the children and they move and sleep together as a unit. The mother will guide young by a nudging movement with her proboscis.

The young are born with distinctive brown & bright stripes and spots which aid in hiding amongst the forest floor, with the coloring fading as the calf matures. The calves are born very highly dependent on their parents and continue nursing until they are 8 months old, not leaving the parents until they are 1 year old or older.

ENCUNTERING THE TAPIR IN COSTA RICA

Tapirs live all around Costa Rica – some of the best locations for Tapir sightings are within large protected areas like the numerous Costa Rican National Parks. Corcovado, Tortuguero, Rincón de la Vieja and Braulio Carrillo National Parks are just a few known Tapir habitats. It is recommended to use knowledgeable guides and tour companies when venturing into the rainforests in search of the elusive Tapirs. Here are a few examples to get you started:

• Tapir Valley Nature Reserve – A private ecological reserve near Tenorio Volcano National Park, dedicated to protecting Tapir habitat. Entry is by reservation only.
• Tapir’s Trail Tour – A guided tour in the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve, near Drake Bay, known for Tapir sightings. Next door to Corcovado National Park.
• Tapirus Lodge Rainforest Tour – Located within a 475-hectare private reserve, this lodge offers guided hikes, birdwatching, and night tours where Tapirs are often spotted. Located next to Braulio Carrillo National Park.

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