| The Baird's Tapir is one of four species of tapir | | | | Due to the size of a Baird's Tapir only a jaguar |
| still left in the world. The remaining species are | | | | can kill an adult Baird's on land. In the water only |
| the: Brazilian, Malayan and Mountain. | | | | an American Crocodile is capable of killing a grown |
| The people of Belize, Central America call their | | | | Baird's. |
| tapir "a mountain cow." However, despite the local | | | | After gestation of about 13 months a single tapir |
| name, the Mountain Tapirs do not reside in Belize: | | | | will be born to a mother about once every 2 |
| only the Baird's Tapir lives in Belize. The Baird's | | | | years. Baby tapirs will learn to swim at only 3 |
| Tapir is also the national animal of Belize. | | | | weeks of age. A tapir will leave its' mother at |
| Reaching a weight of over 800 pounds the Baird's | | | | about the age of 2 or 3 years and will live an |
| Tapir is the second largest of all tapir. The | | | | almost completely solitary life till it dies at about |
| Malayan Tapir is the largest of all tapir species. A | | | | the age of 25 to 30 years. Both male and female |
| Baird's Tapir can grow as tall as 4 feet and as | | | | tapirs reach reproductive age between 2 to 4 |
| long as 6.5 feet. | | | | years. |
| Unlike other many mammals which has the same | | | | Tapirs are very shy and will probably run and hide |
| amount of toes on all four feet, a Baird's Tapir | | | | from someone it sees. There are very rare |
| has four toes on its' front feet and only three | | | | occasions where a tapir will attack a person. |
| toes on its' back feet. The Baird's Tapir has dark | | | | However, when tapirs attack they can run very |
| brownish hair so short that from a distance it | | | | fast and their jaws are powerful enough to sever |
| looks hairless. The Baird's Tapir has a | | | | limbs. Be careful and always have a partner when |
| cream-colored marking on its face and throat | | | | walking in any known tapir territory. |
| distinctive only to its' species. | | | | |